Greatest prisoner swap since Cold War

[Wim]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/aug/01/russia-prison-swap-us-journalist-evan-gershkovich-wsj-vadim-krasikov-live

[taiwan_girl]

Good news for the families of those who were hostages.

[Renauda]

This is a significant event. Putin must have really wanted his FSB hoods back. Too bad Navalny didn’t live to be among those released today.

[Wim]

Navalny was listed, but died under suspect circumstances.
I wouldn't be surprised to see some freed hostages die in the near future under suspect circumstances as well...

[Renauda]

@Wim

Time will tell. Of any of them I think Vladimir Kara Murza would be the chosen target. Possibly Yashin as well.

In any case Putin felt it was necessary to receive his hoods at the airport in person:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmj2jlgr65dof

[Mik]

He's in bad need of a PR win.

[taiwan_girl]

Interesting back story about how it all came together. Lots of moving pieces and negotiations. I thought was interesting that the initial negotiations were led by the CIA.

[Mik]

Is this bravery or foolishness? I hope it's the former.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/two-russian-ex-prisoners-from-east-west-swap-want-to-return-home/ar-AA1ocN9y?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=193086dcf4c34c8d841391c155c0c428&ei=18

[Renauda]

@Mik

Pivovarov and Yashin are both determined dissident politicians. Not far removed at all from the exiled Kasparov, Khodorkovsky or Yulia Navalnaya. They know they cannot return so long as Putin remains in power. Still, they are determined to keep
up the fight from abroad. Besides, the FSB confiscated their Russian foreign travel passports prior to their arrival in Ankara last week. All they have are temporary travel documents in lieu of passports. The only way for them to return to Russia is to be smuggled there.

At the same time though, they will remain targets for FSB intimidation, coercion and assassination.