ANKARA, Aug 2 – A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Belarus on one side and the U.S, Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Poland on the other has been confirmed by Turkish intelligence services.
The exchange involved 26 individuals and took place at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara, Turkiye.
The prisoners were transported to Turkiye by a total of seven aircraft: two from the U.S., and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia.
In the exchange, 10 prisoners, including two minors, were relocated to Russia, 13 to Germany, and three to the U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed the exchange of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsou Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan as they landed in the US following their release as part of a major prisoner exchange with Russia.
Meanwhile in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally met the Russians released at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, the German news agency (dpa) reported.
