Belarus Released prisoners land in the USA
It is shortly before midnight when the three released US prisoners step back onto American soil for the first time following the historic prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and several Western countries. The "Wall Street Journal" correspondent Evan Gershkovich, the former soldier Paul Whelan and the journalist Alsu Kurmasheva first greet US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a beaming smile and then fall into the arms of their families amid cheers and tears of joy.
02.08.2024, 08:50
SDA
Gershkovich, who had been sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage in Russia, twirled his mother through the air while Biden and Harris applauded with smiles. He was also met at the airport by colleagues from the Wall Street Journal, including the paper's editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker. "Thank you for everything, Emma, that was a lot," Gershkovich said, according to the newspaper.
The plane carrying the released US citizens, which took off from Ankara, Turkey, landed at Joint Base Andrews military airport not far from the US capital Washington after a flight of more than nine hours. "It's a wonderful feeling," Biden told journalists on the tarmac, "I was absolutely convinced that we could do this."
"Tough break" for US allies
The prisoner exchange was a "tough nut to crack" for the USA's allies, said Biden. Germany and Slovenia in particular had had to make decisions that were "against their immediate interests". Chancellor Olaf Scholz in particular had been "unbelievable". When asked what his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was, he simply replied: "Stop."
Vice President Harris spoke of an "incredible day". The prisoner exchange was "extraordinary proof of how important it is to have a president who understands the power of diplomacy".
Relief in Germany too
During the night, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already received 13 released prisoners in Germany. "That was very moving," he said at Cologne/Bonn Airport. "Many feared for their health and also for their lives, that must be made very clear and that is why it is also important that we have now made this protection possible for them here."
A total of 26 prisoners were exchanged in the unprecedented operation involving the Turkish secret service MIT. In return for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the USA and partner countries released a convicted murderer and prisoners suspected of espionage from Russia. For example, Germany handed over Vadim Krassikov, the so-called Tiergarten murderer, at the airport in the Turkish capital Ankara. Russia released prominent opposition figures such as Vladimir Kara-Mursa and Ilya Yashin.
A warm welcome from Putin on the tarmac
Russian President Vladimir Putin personally received the Russians released by the West. The Kremlin leader hugged at least one of the men on the tarmac, where the presidential guard stood guard. "You are home, you are at home," Putin greeted the released men and announced that they would be nominated for state awards.
"Making a deal with the devil out of humanity"
The release of the "zoo murderer" Vadim Krasikov in particular left a bitter aftertaste, despite all the joy over the release of the political prisoners. "Nobody made this decision to deport a murderer sentenced to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison an easy one," said Scholz. The difficult decision had been taken jointly by the coalition after careful deliberation and consideration, the leader of the opposition - CDU faction leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) - had been informed at an early stage and, by his own admission, had agreed.
After the meeting with those released, Scholz described the exchange as the right decision. "And if you had any doubts, you lose them after talking to those who are now free."
SPD foreign affairs politician Michael Roth wrote on X that sometimes you have to "make a deal with the devil for the sake of humanity". Justice Minister Marco Buschmann conceded that painful concessions had to be made for the freedom of the prisoners. With regard to the deportation of convicted murderer Wadim Krassikow, he said: "I am responsible for a particularly bitter concession as Minister of Justice."
The human rights organization Amnesty International welcomed the prisoner exchange, but warned of the consequences of such deals. "The Russian government could feel encouraged to carry out further political arrests and human rights violations without having to fear any consequences," said Christian Mihr, Deputy Secretary General in Germany.
Among the German citizens who were released was Rico K., who was initially sentenced to death in Belarus and later pardoned. Patrick S., who according to the authorities had been arrested at St. Petersburg airport for having cannabis gummy bears in his luggage, was also handed over to Germany.
"Tiergarten murderer" sentenced to life imprisonment
Vadim Krassikov, who has now been handed over to Russia, murdered a Georgian of Chechen descent who had sought refuge in Germany in the Kleiner Tiergarten park in Berlin in 2019. The Berlin Court of Appeal sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2021. Kremlin leader Putin publicly defended the murderer because, in Russia's view, he had eliminated an enemy of the state. Russian authorities had classified the Georgian as a Chechen terrorist.
The premature end of the prison sentence for the "Tiergarten murderer" also upset the victim's surviving relatives. "This was devastating news for us relatives," they told the German Press Agency via their lawyer Inga Schulz. "On the one hand, we are happy that someone's life was saved. At the same time, we are very disappointed that there seems to be no law in the world, even in countries where the law is the highest authority."
