prisoner swap

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Russia and Ukraine Trade Prisoners After Kursk Incursion

Each country sends the other 115 detainees

(Newser) - Ukraine has said one reason for its incursion into the Kursk region of Russia is to capture soldiers it can then trade for the return of its own troops. That goal was realized for the first time on Saturday, when Ukraine and Russia held a prisoner exchange. Each country sent...

Russia Sentences US Citizen to 12 Years for $52 Donation

Ksenia Karelina was charged with treason over donation to pro-Ukrainian charity

(Newser) - Another US citizen has received a long sentence from a Russian court. Dual US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina was sentenced to 12 years on Tuesday on a treason charge connected to a donation of around $52 she made to a US charity providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2022. Russian prosecutors...

Freed Dissidents Aren't Thrilled With All Terms of Their Release

Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov say they want to return home to Russia, probably can't

(Newser) - With last week's historic prisoner swap, Russian President Vladimir Putin did more than secure the release of his assassin friend . He also appears to have conveniently "rid himself of some of his most persistent critics," Politico reports, noting several Russian dissidents whisked from prisons inside Russia have...

Bloomberg Broke Embargo on Reporting Prisoner Swap

Outlet's editor-in-chief says multiple staffers have been disciplined

(Newser) - Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait says multiple staffers have been disciplined for breaking the embargo on news of Thursday's historic prisoner swap with Russia. CNN says it and other outlets briefed by the White House had agreed to delay reporting on the release of Americans including Wall Street Journal reporter...

'There Was No Deal to Be Had' Without Vadim Krasikov
'There Was No Deal to Be
Had' Without Vadim Krasikov
the rundown
Aug 2, 2024 7:31 AM CDT

'There Was No Deal to Be Had' Without Vadim Krasikov

A look inside the unprecedented prisoner swap that was months in the making

(Newser) - It was the biggest prisoner swap in recent history , involving 24 people and seven countries. Sixteen journalists, pro-democracy activists, and others held by Russia and Belarus were exchanged Thursday for eight Russians jailed for espionage, murder, hacking, and other crimes in the US, Norway, Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. Here's...

Gershkovich, Whelan Are Back on US Soil

They arrive, along with 3rd freed American, after massive prisoner swap

(Newser) - The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free. Gershkovich, Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with...

It's the Biggest Prisoner Swap Since the Cold War
It's the Biggest Prisoner
Swap Since the Cold War
the rundown
Aug 1, 2024 1:41 PM CDT

It's the Biggest Prisoner Swap Since the Cold War

3 US citizens freed by Russia, while a Russian hit man gets his freedom, too

(Newser) - The deal that resulted in the biggest and most complex prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War took more than a year of secret negotiations, reports Reuters . The most well-known names involved are Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, but 22 other prisoners also were in the mix,...

Russia Frees Americans Gershkovich, Whelan in Swap

About 2 dozen prisoners on both sides are involved in the deal

(Newser) - Russia has freed Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan as part of a large prisoner swap with the West, reports the AP . Turkish officials confirmed the swap on Thursday after reports emerged at Bloomberg and the Daily Beast , among other outlets. Details were still emerging.
  • Two big names: Gershkovich, a
...

Putin: I'd Just Agreed to Prisoner Swap When Navalny Died

It's the Russian president's first mention of opposition leader since his death

(Newser) - On Sunday, the same day preliminary election results in Russia made it clear he'd win the country's presidency again, Vladimir Putin made a reveal regarding the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. It came during an exchange with an NBC News reporter during an appearance in Moscow after the...

Russia, Ukraine Swap POWs in Biggest Release So Far

Deal brokered by UAE comes as Ukraine steps up strikes against Russian side of the border

(Newser) - Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release of captives since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian authorities said that 230 Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home in the first exchange in almost five months. Russia's Defense Ministry said that...

Venezuela Hands Over 'Fat Leonard' in Prisoner Swap

Former defense contractor is central figure in massive Pentagon bribery scandal

(Newser) - This file is updated throughout with new details. The US freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the extradition of a fugitive defense contractor known as "Fat Leonard," who is at...

Trump Has Thoughts on Iran Prisoner Swap

Former president blasts 'absolutely ridiculous' deal as 5 freed Americans arrive home

(Newser) - Americans detained for years in Iran arrived home Tuesday after being freed as part of a politically risky deal that saw President Biden agree to the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets, per the AP . The prisoners landed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with clapping and cheers heard...

Iran Says Prisoner Swap Is Expected to Happen Monday
Five Americans Freed
by Iran in Prisoner Swap
UPDATED
Sep 18, 2023 8:24 AM CDT

Five Americans Freed by Iran in Prisoner Swap

Five Iranians freed in exchange, and $6B in Iranian funds are unfrozen

(Newser) - Five Americans held by Iran have been freed in a prisoner swap, reports the AP . A plane with all five aboard left Tehran on Monday. Three of the Americans have previously been named, and the remaining two wished to keep their identities private. Some have been held since at least...

US Frees Up $6B in Frozen Iran Funds in Prisoner Swap Deal

Arrangement advances to free 5 Iranian prisoners in US in exchange for 5 American prisoners in Iran

(Newser) - Five American citizens detained in Iran are now set to be released, after the Biden administration agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Per the AP , the next step in the deal also included the US issuing a waiver to banks around the world to allow...

One of Putin's Assassins May Be Key in Prisoner Swap

'Wall Street Journal' explores the world of jailed hit man Vadim Krasikov

(Newser) - Somewhere in Germany, a Russian by the name of Vadim Krasikov is serving out his life sentence for the brazen execution of a man in a Berlin park crowded with families in 2019. As the Wall Street Journal reports, after Krasikov calmly shot his victim multiple times, he bicycled away,...

Ukraine, Russia Make Easter Prisoner Swap

Adviser to Zelensky says more than 100 troops, others were headed home

(Newser) - More than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released as part of a major Easter exchange with Russia, a top official said Sunday, as Orthodox Ukrainians marked the holiday for a second time since Moscow unleashed its full-scale war more than a year ago. While celebrations were subdued because...

Here's What Russia Wanted in Exchange for Whelan

Officials pushed for release of Vadim Krasikov, detained in Germany: CNN

(Newser) - The family of Paul Whelan is holding out hope that "the third time is the charm." Referencing the releases this year of other Russian detainees Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner, the family said Monday it has faith that freeing Whelan remains a top priority for the Biden administration....

Brittney Griner Lands in Texas
Brittney Griner
Lands in Texas
Dec 9, 2022 5:56 AM CST

Brittney Griner Lands in Texas

She'll meet wife, undergo checks at Brooke Army Medical Center

(Newser) - Brittney Griner is back in the US. The WNBA star released from Russian custody as part of a prisoner swap was seen stepping off a plane that landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, around 5:30am Friday, CNN reports. That arrival followed the exchange in Abu Dhabi, mediated...

Release May Be a Reward for Viktor Bout Keeping 'His Cool'

Arms dealer gave US no information, and his release could be his reward, analysts say

(Newser) - Russia had made clear that the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout was important to the government. In July, his US lawyer decreed that "no Americans will be exchanged unless Viktor Bout is sent home." It's not entirely clear why his release—achieved Thursday in a deal...

Brittney Griner Freed by Russia, but at a 'Heavy Price'

CBS News reports she was exchanged for arms dealer Viktor Bout

(Newser) - Brittney Griner has been freed in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, CBS News reports by way of a US official. The network reports the prisoner exchange happened Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, the culmination of a deal reportedly reached a week ago and given...

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