SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Strong reactions follow after prisoner exchange

Reactions of relief and joy were combined with discontent over convicted murderers being released.

» Updated: 01 August 2024, 21:52

» Published: 01 August 2024

Strong reactions follow after prisoner exchange
Photo: Terje Pedersen/NTB/TT

The historically large prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries highlights the problems with so-called hostage diplomacy, where a country takes innocent people hostage to use them as bargaining chips.

Several of the Russian prisoners released from Western European prisons have simultaneously been convicted of violent crimes, with obvious connections to the Russian intelligence service.

German Concern

Germany acknowledged that it was problematic to release a murderer convicted in Germany, but that the responsibility towards Germans and others who are unfairly imprisoned in Russian prisons was decisive.

The spokesperson for the German government, Steffen Hebestreit, said that it was not an "easy decision", and he simultaneously urged Moscow and Minsk "to release all political prisoners who have been unfairly imprisoned."

Julia Navalnaya, the widow of the Russian regime critic Alexei Navalny, expressed "joy" over the release of political prisoners in Russia.

"Every released political prisoner is an enormous political victory, and is a reason to celebrate", Navalnaya wrote on social media. She has continued the fight that her husband led against President Vladimir Putin and the power in the Kremlin.

Navalny died in Russian captivity, and Julia Navalnaya noted that those who have now been exchanged "have been saved from Putin's regime".

In connection with the prisoner exchange of 26 prisoners, US Vice President Kamala Harris called Julia Navalnaya to express her appreciation for her and her deceased husband's efforts.

UN Demands More

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said he was relieved that human rights activists and journalists had been released by Russia in the prisoner exchange, the largest between Russia and Western countries since the Cold War era.

But Türk said simultaneously that "all journalists and human rights defenders who are imprisoned simply for doing their job must be released".

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and now deputy head of the Russian Security Council, commented on the prisoner exchange from a different perspective:

"I would of course like to see the traitors rot in dungeons or die in prison. But it is better to get our own people free, those who have worked for the Fatherland, for all of us".

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Republicans block report on accused Gaetz
1 MIN READ

Republicans block report on accused Gaetz

Belarus releases a fraction of prisoners ahead of election
1 MIN READ

Belarus releases a fraction of prisoners ahead of election

The new law: Fines for promoting a life without children
1 MIN READ

The new law: Fines for promoting a life without children

This is what has happened in the Norwegian royal scandal
3 MIN READ

This is what has happened in the Norwegian royal scandal

The Brussels Brawl is Over – New EU Commission Near
3 MIN READ

The Brussels Brawl is Over – New EU Commission Near

USA blocked resolution on ceasefire in Gaza
1 MIN READ

USA blocked resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

British Storm Shadow has been used against Russian targets
2 MIN READ

British Storm Shadow has been used against Russian targets

Hezbollah leader threatens with new attacks
1 MIN READ

Hezbollah leader threatens with new attacks

Spain: Hundreds of Thousands of Undocumented Migrants Become Legal
2 MIN READ

Spain: Hundreds of Thousands of Undocumented Migrants Become Legal

Death toll rises after attack on Palmyra
2 MIN READ

Death toll rises after attack on Palmyra

Putin's gift to Kim: A lion and two bears
2 MIN READ

Putin's gift to Kim: A lion and two bears

"No to changed rules for rainforest logging"
1 MIN READ

"No to changed rules for rainforest logging"

Sudan: 40 killed in attack on village
1 MIN READ

Sudan: 40 killed in attack on village

Tunisian opposition leader attacked with acid
1 MIN READ

Tunisian opposition leader attacked with acid

Report: Breivik is not psychotic
1 MIN READ

Report: Breivik is not psychotic

Marius Borg Høiby detained for a week
3 MIN READ

Marius Borg Høiby detained for a week

The Brussels Brawl is Over – New EU Commission Near
3 MIN READ

The Brussels Brawl is Over – New EU Commission Near

The West wants to punish Iran for "poor cooperation"
1 MIN READ

The West wants to punish Iran for "poor cooperation"

Bomb Cyclone Sweeps Across the USA: "Explosive"
2 MIN READ

Bomb Cyclone Sweeps Across the USA: "Explosive"

Embassies closed – but Kyiv calls threat fake
2 MIN READ

Embassies closed – but Kyiv calls threat fake