In a landmark prisoner exchange, Russia welcomed back eight criminals in a swap that involved the release of a total of 24 detainees, negotiating with seven different nations, including the United States and Germany.
Let’s take a closer look at the notorious individuals who returned to Russia as part of the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War:
Vadim Krasikov
An undated photo acquired from Reuters depicts Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 for the murder of a Chechen-Georgian dissident in a Berlin park. (Reuters)
The primary target for Russian President Vladimir Putin in this swap was assassin Vadim Krasikov, known by the alias Vadim Sokolov. He was found guilty by a German court for the 2019 murder of a former Chechen commander near the German Bundestag.
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He allegedly conducted the assassination on behalf of Moscow’s security apparatus.
Roman Seleznev
Roman Seleznev received a sentence of 14 years for his involvement in a $50 million cybercrime ring and for defrauding banks of $9 million via a hacking scheme. (U.S. Department of Justice)
Roman Seleznev, the offspring of a Russian Parliament member, was handed a 27-year prison sentence after being found guilty of hacking into more than 500 U.S. companies and stealing millions of credit card details.
In addition, he was sentenced to 14 years for his role in a $50 million cyber fraud scheme and for swindling banks out of $9 million through hacking.
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Vadim Konoshchenok
Vadim Konoshchenok, accused of supplying U.S.-made electronics and ammunition to the Russian military, is said to be the last individual released from U.S. custody. (U.S. Department of Justice)
Vadim Konoshchenok, a Russian national with suspected connections to the FSB, faced allegations of supplying U.S. electronics and munitions to the Russian military.
He was extradited from Estonia to the U.S. last month.
“As alleged, the defendant played a critical role in a scheme to deliver sensitive American-made electronics and munitions to support Russia’s military efforts and weapon advancements, violating U.S. export laws, economic sanctions, and various criminal statutes,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace in a press release at the time. “This case serves as a clear reminder that no matter where you are, if you breach U.S. export regulations or evade U.S. sanctions, we will pursue justice against you in a U.S. court.”
Vladislav Klyushin
This image from the U.S. Attorney’s Office displays the Russian passport belonging to Vladislav Klyushin, who was found guilty of participating in an insider trading scheme on February 14, 2023. (U.S. Attorney’s Office via AP, File)
Vladislav Klyushin, a businessman from Russia, was convicted for his participation in an intricate hack-to-trade operation that generated around $93 million through securities trades that relied on confidential corporate information compromised from U.S. computer systems.
In February 2023, Klyushin was found guilty of securities fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized computer access, and conspiracy related to these offenses by a federal jury.
He was apprehended in Switzerland in March 2021 and subsequently extradited to the U.S. within that same year.
Pavel Rubtsov
Pavel Rubtsov was identified as a Russian agent by Poland’s Internal Security Agency in 2022. Operating as a journalist for Spanish media under the alias Pablo Gonzalez, he was arrested on espionage charges in eastern Poland shortly after Russia initiated its full-scale invasion.
Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva
Artem Dultzev and Anna Dultseva are a Russian couple arrested on espionage allegations in Slovenia in 2022.
Presenting themselves as Argentine citizens, they reportedly utilized Slovenia as a base to travel to neighboring countries and convey Moscow’s instructions to other Russian sleeper agents since 2017.
They pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 19 months, having been released for time served. The couple has two children.
Mikhail Mikushin
Mikhail Mikushin was apprehended in Norway in 2022 on espionage charges.
As per Norwegian investigators, he was residing in the country under a fabricated identity while employed by Russia’s intelligence service, allegedly entering the country while posing as a Brazilian citizen.
BIDEN CALLS RUSSIA PRISONER SWAP DEAL THAT FREED WSJ’S GERSHKOVICH, WHELAN A ‘FEAT OF DIPLOMACY’
This combined image features Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in the center, surrounded by, clockwise from top left, Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, corporate security officer and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Lilia Chanysheva, Oleg Orlov of Memorial Human Rights Center, artist Sasha Skochilenko, opposition activist Ilya Yashin, and Andrei Pivovarov from Open Russia. (Associated Press)
This significant exchange released three U.S. citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly detained in Russia: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
President Biden described the prisoner swap as a “feat of diplomacy.”
“We successfully negotiated the release of 16 individuals from Russia, which included five Germans and seven Russians who were political prisoners within their home country. Many of these individuals have been unjustly detained for prolonged periods and have suffered greatly. Their ordeal is now over,” stated the White House in a press release.
Sources inform Fox News that just an hour before Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21, he was speaking with his Slovenian counterpart to finalize details of the deal.
Biden also expressed gratitude individually to leaders such as Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for their essential collaboration on this historic agreement that facilitated the return of Americans and others detained in Russia.
The president acknowledged their support throughout the intricate negotiations that led to this consequential release.
President Biden addressed the media on Thursday regarding the prisoner swap deal, with family members of the released individuals present. (AP/Alex Brandon)
Contrarily, a leading Republican cautioned on Thursday that the Biden administration’s decision to exchange Russian criminals for American detainees might communicate a “dangerous message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, expressed support for the released individuals, stating his excitement over the return of the Americans.
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“Nevertheless, I harbor concerns that ongoing exchanges of innocent Americans for bona fide Russian criminals in the U.S. and elsewhere sends a hazardous signal to Putin, potentially fostering further hostage-taking by his regime,” he remarked.
Biden is expected to welcome the repatriated prisoners at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Julia Johnson, David Rutz, Brian Flood, and Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.
