2024 Ankara prisoner exchange

The three American nationals released in the exchange are joined by government officials and staff on their return flight to the United States: Evan Gershkovich (bottom-left), Paul Whelan (second from right), and Alsu Kurmasheva (bottom-right)

On 1 August 2024, the United States and Russia conducted the most extensive prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, involving the release of twenty-six people. The exchange was realized at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey.[1]

Following at least six months of secret multilateral negotiations,[2][3] Russia and Belarus released sixteen detainees while the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway collectively released eight detainees and two minors. Among those released were three American citizens: Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine; Gershkovich and Whelan had each received sixteen-year sentences for espionage, becoming a cause célèbre in the U.S.[4][5]

The prisoner exchange, which has been described as one of the most complex in history,[6] took place at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, whose government served as a mediator between the parties.[7][8] Under the terms of the agreement, the eight Russian nationals and two minors were transferred to Russia, while thirteen of the prisoners held by Russia and Belarus were released to Germany and three to the U.S.[9] Both the U.S. and Russia hailed the prisoner swap as a significant diplomatic victory.[10][7]

  1. ^ "Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history". AP News. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024. The U.S. and Russia on Thursday completed their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history...
  2. ^ "Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history". AP News. 1 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Two years, secret talks, high stakes: The long road to prisoners deal". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  4. ^ Walker, Shaun (1 August 2024). "Russia frees Evan Gershkovich and others in biggest prisoner swap since cold war". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  5. ^ Hansler, Jennifer; Atwood, Kylie; Kottasová, Ivana (1 August 2024). "US and Russia carrying out massive prisoner swap, including number of Americans, official says". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  6. ^ Farhi, Arden; Gazis, Olivia; Schick, Camilla (1 August 2024). "U.S., Russia prisoner swap secures release of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and others". CBS News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b "US and Russia tout prisoner swap as a victory. But perceptions of the deal show stark differences". AP News. 3 August 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ dhojnacki (2 August 2024). "Turkey's linchpin role in the Russia prisoner swap offers a lesson". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ^ Osborn, Andrew; Lebedev, Filipp; Papachristou, Lucy (1 August 2024). "Americans Gershkovich and Whelan included in a big prisoner swap, Turkey says". Reuters. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ Yee, Vivian; Timur, Safak (1 August 2024). "Turkey Revels in the Role It Played in Prisoner Swap". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.