Putin's personal position: why Russia was interested in exchanging prisoners with the US

Putin's personal position: why Russia was interested in exchanging prisoners with the United States Natalia Belzetskaya

The largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War took place between Russia, the United States and Germany. Russia has returned 10 of its citizens, including spies and a murderer, and 16 illegally imprisoned people have been handed over to Western countries.

Such exchanges are not accidental; they have been prepared for many months. General of the Army, former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Nikolai Malomuzh told Channel 24 about this, noting that a number of agencies from different countries were involved.

Why the exchange is important for Russia

In order to carry out the exchange, the intelligence services of the USA, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia worked. A number of intermediaries were also involved. The exchange itself took place in Turkey, which is a NATO member, but also has established contacts with the Russian side.

This is the first time since the Cold War that such a large number of people have been exchanged. Previously, only one or two citizens were mentioned. It is worth noting that each person for exchange is discussed separately and in great detail.

Russia has focused on the return of its intelligence officers or their agents. There are 10 people on the list, and all of them are intelligence officers, saboteurs, or those who killed political figures.

It was Putin's personal position to return Vadim Krasnikov and show that he does not abandon his own. The same applies to other people. It was important for him to show the release of these people in order to raise his prestige, – the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service noted.

Why the West agreed

The negotiations lasted a very long time, but the West did not agree to give up certain people. But given what was said about the lives and health of journalists, special forces, and human rights activists, some of whom had foreign citizenship, the parties came to a consensus.

“For Russia, these were highly critical people. After all, they belonged to an active group in the Russian special services and had secrets. It is clear that they always try to pull such people out,” Malomuzh noted.

Turkey became a “bridge” in the negotiations. It already has established mechanisms for such exchanges. It was the Turkish side that was responsible for arrival at the airport, placement of special services, identification of the parties, security, and coordinated logistics.

The exchange is unlikely to indicate a warming in relations between Russia and the United States. On the contrary, it shows serious disagreements between the countries. Russia was forced to agree to the exchange because it really needed it. Otherwise, it would never have exchanged 10 people for 16, the army general emphasized.

He added that Russia did this because the prisoners are important representatives of the special services. And in the future, they can be used for propaganda purposes.

Note that the first to confirm the exchange was US President Joe Biden. He said that political prisoners whom Russia held on false charges are returning to America.