America, Russia and Germany Agree to Prisoner Swap

The United States and Russia performed the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War on Thursday, with Germany playing a major role.

America: Three Americans who were being held in Russia were returned to the U.S.:

• Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal journalist accused of espionage
• Paul Whelan, former marine also accused of espionage
• Alsu Kurmasheva, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty journalist accused of spreading false information

Russia: Russia received eight prisoners in return:

• Vadim Krasikov, former Federal Security Service agent, convicted assassin
• Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, believed to be Russian Foreign Intelligence Service agents, convicted of espionage
• Mikhail Mikushin, convicted of espionage and spying
• Pavel Rubstov, convicted of spying
• Roman Seleznev and Vladislav Klyushin, Russian hackers
• Vadim Konoshchenok, smuggler of U.S. technology and equipment for the Russian military

Most important to the deal was Krasikov, an assassin arrested in Germany in 2019 after murdering former Chechen militant Zelimkhan Kansasville in a park in central Berlin. The murder was considered state terrorism, and Krasikov was charged with the most serious conviction possible under German law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been trying to get Krasikov back ever since. In 2022, Putin offered to release U.S. prisoners in exchange for Krasikov. Since Krasikov was being held in Germany, the U.S. did not take Russia’s offer seriously. Russia then arrested Gershkovick and Kurmasheva to use as leverage.

Germany: In January, Joe Biden brought up the prisoner exchange to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and asked him for assistance. Scholz told Biden, “For you, I will do this.”

Five Germans were also freed in Thursday’s deal, including Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death in Belarus for planting explosives near a railway line in support of Ukraine.

Eight Russian activists and critics of the Kremlin were also freed.

Scholz insisted the swap was “the right decision.”

If you had any doubts, you will lose them after talking to those who are now free. Many of the prisoners feared for their health and even their lives.
—Olaf Scholz

Biden formally thanked Scholz, saying he had “a great sense of gratitude” toward him.

It was not easy for anyone to make this decision to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison. That is why it was important to us that we have an obligation to protect German nationals as well as solidarity with the United States.
—Olaf Scholz

Compromise: The last time America and Russia conducted a prisoner swap was in 2022, when the U.S. handed over Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “merchant of death,” in exchange for American basketball player Brittney Griner.

In that exchange, the Biden administration showed Putin that America was willing to compromise and that a hostage-taking strategy would be rewarded. This latest prisoner swap reinforces that message to America’s enemies.

Learn more: Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches America’s Retreat From Global Leadership.”