The largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War shakes Russia
Men, imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges, are on their way to a location outside Russia, media report. "I think that all the enemies should remain there," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented.
International agencies emphasize that a prisoner exchange occurred in Ankara on Thursday, the largest since the Cold War between Russia and Western countries. According to the Turkish Anatolia service, 24 people from prisons in seven countries and two children were involved in the operation.
Turkish intelligence (MIT) coordinated the entire operation. Initially, the Kremlin did not want to comment on the prisoner exchange. Only after the Turkish services published the official information did Dmitry Peskov speak out.
"I think that all the enemies should remain (abroad- ed.) there, and all those who are not enemies are welcome to return. This is my point of view," Peskov said, as quoted by the Russian news agency TASS.
Putin pardons everyone
It was also conveyed that Vladimir Putin signed decrees pardoning all prisoners who were exchanged for Russians detained in the West.
The statement said, "The decision to sign the decrees was made with the aim of returning citizens of the Russian Federation who were detained and imprisoned on the territory of foreign states."
According to the Kremlin press service, Vladimir Putin signed decrees pardoning Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Lilia Chanysheva, Ilya Yashin, Ksenia Fadeyeva, Andrey Pivovar, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, Demuri Voronin, Kevin Lick, Patrick Schöbel, Herman Moyses, and Vadim Ostanin.
