The United States and Russia have conducted the largest prisoner exchange in the post-Soviet era, a deal that involved the release of 24 prisoners following months of negotiations and concessions from European countries, which released individuals they had detained as part of this exchange.
The agreement does not appear to signal an improvement in relations between the United States and Russia, but it is notable nonetheless.
Analysts point out an imbalance in the fact that Americans imprisoned unjustly are being exchanged for convicted criminals in Western courts. However, President Joe Biden says such agreements require tough decisions.
Here are some key facts about the agreement:
Who Were the Released Individuals?
Among the 24 individuals—some high-profile and some not—were journalists, political dissidents, suspected spies, a hacker, a fraudster, and a convicted murderer.
Russia released 16 individuals, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, a security executive from Michigan. Both were facing lengthy prison sentences after being convicted of espionage in Russia’s politicized legal system, charges which the U.S. government deemed unfounded.
Among those released by Moscow is also Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who holds dual American-Russian citizenship and was sentenced in July for disseminating false information about the Russian military—charges that her family and Radio Free Europe have denied.
The three Americans arrived on Thursday evening at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Russia also released Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize winner Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for treason, considered politically motivated.
Among the prisoners that Russia received in exchange was Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany for the murder of a Chechen insurgent in a Berlin park two years ago, likely under orders from Russian security services. The exchange also included two “sleeping” agents who were imprisoned in Slovenia, three convicted by American authorities, and two from Norway and Poland.
Will US-Russia Relations Improve?
This does not seem imminent.
The United States and Russia have made several prisoner exchange agreements during the period of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including one in December 2022, through which Moscow released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
However, none of these exchanges resulted in improved relations, especially at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to end aggression against Ukraine and Washington continues to provide significant military support to Kyiv.
More than anything, prisoner exchanges are a rare source of compromise and alignment of mutual interests. Nevertheless, the fact that states reached an agreement during open hostilities is noteworthy.
Americans Left in Russia
Although Thursday’s agreement included the most well-known Americans held in Russia, including two who were officially considered wrongfully detained, there are still other Americans remaining in Russia.
Among them are rock musician Travis Leake, convicted on drug charges and serving a prison sentence; U.S. soldier Gordon Black, convicted of theft and threats of murder; Marc Fogel, a teacher serving a sentence on drug charges; and Ksenia Khavana, who was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February for treason, accused of raising funds for the Ukrainian military.
Khavana had returned to Russia to visit family. The owner of a California beauty salon where Khavana had worked previously told the Associated Press that Khavana was actually raising funds for humanitarian aid.
In a press statement following the announcement of the agreement, Fogel’s family called it “meaningless” that he was not included in the deal and urged the Biden administration to prioritize his release.
A senior administration official, who spoke with reporters before the exchange on the condition of anonymity, said the administration would double its efforts to bring all Americans home.
Differences Between the Released Prisoners from Both Sides
In recent years’ prisoner exchanges, the U.S. government has released criminals convicted of serious crimes, including arms and drug traffickers and a Taliban drug network leader.
The latest agreement is no exception: The United States and its Western allies agreed to hand over to Russia criminals who are considered to be convicted and sentenced based on fair judicial processes.
The most significant example is Vadim Krasikov, who on August 23, 2019, was found guilty of the murder of 40-year-old Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a Georgian national who had fought against Russian troops in Chechnya and later sought asylum in Germany.
When Krasikov was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021, German judges said he acted under orders from Russian authorities, who provided him with a false identity, passport, and resources to carry out the murder.
During negotiations, Russia insisted that Krasikov be released as part of the exchange, making it clear that he was at the top of their list. President Putin indicated early this year that he was interested in such an exchange to release the “patriot” being held in Germany.
In contrast, the Americans and Europeans released by Russia include people who were considered by the United States as wrongfully detained—such as journalist Gershkovich and former Marine Whelan—or those generally regarded as held on unfounded charges.
“Such agreements come with tough decisions,” President Biden said, but added: “Nothing is more important to me than to protect Americans here and abroad.”
Navalny Could Have Been Included
A central part of this agreement was the person who never became part of it: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
At the time of his death in February, officials were discussing a possible exchange that would include him and Krasikov as a way to fulfill Russia’s ongoing demand for him and to release the detained Americans.
American officials described Navalny’s sudden and unexplained death as a setback, but they devised a new plan to present to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In the end, some of Navalny’s associates were released.
The Politics Behind the Agreement
President Biden signaled his commitment to this agreement last week during his Oval Office address when he announced his decision not to run for re-election: “We are also working all the time to bring home all Americans who are wrongfully detained around the world.”
On Thursday, he celebrated the success of the diplomatic outcome achieved in recent months of his administration as he welcomed the families of the returning American prisoners to the White House. Perhaps in reference to his former rival Donald Trump’s slogan “America First,” Biden said: “Today is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world.”
Trump, who during his presidency showed interest in the issue of hostages and wrongfully detained Americans, claimed during a June debate with Biden that he would secure the release of journalist Gershkovich immediately after winning the election.
On Thursday, he criticized the agreement, erroneously suggesting on his platform ‘Truth Social’ that the United States had given funds to Russia in exchange for the deal.
“Are we releasing murderers, terrorists, or thugs? I’m just curious because we never make good deals, for anything, but especially for hostage exchanges,” he wrote.
