- Opposition thanks the Federal Government and the United States
Following the major prisoner exchange, freed opposition figures publicly thanked the German government. In democracies, decisions aren't easy, nor was it for the German government, but human life holds the highest value for civilized societies, said prominent Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Mursa in Bonn. "Only simple decisions exist in dictatorships."
Opposition figure Ilya Yashin said he personally thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the difficult decision to hand over convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov to secure the release of Putin's opponents. However, he emphasized that he was exchanged against his will. His request to stay in his homeland was ignored by the penal system. "This is a violation of the law." He noted that there were others, severely ill, who should have been exchanged instead.
Kara-Mursa also recounted that he refused to submit a pardon request to Putin. Instead, he called Putin a murderer and war criminal, and was then arrested at night. "I thought I would be shot." Legally, he shouldn't have been pardoned. He didn't even have a passport. "I was sure I would die in Putin's prison."
Freed Russians demand further prisoner exchange
Yashin disagreed with the view that Putin would be encouraged to take more hostages to free more Russians imprisoned in the West. Putin is a dictator who continues to torture people regardless of this prisoner exchange, he said. "My goal is to return to Russia. That's my homeland." He will never accept the role of an emigrant.
Kara-Mursa also thanked the USA and UK for their help in freeing Putin's prisoners. His first call after his release was with US President Joe Biden. Efforts must continue, he said. Hundreds of people are still in prison in Russia due to their political views. Opposition figure Andrei Pivovarov also asked to fight for those still in Russian labor camps.
Pivovarov and Kara-Mursa emphasized that not all Russians support Putin's war against Ukraine, but many fear imprisonment for their criticism. The opposition figures stressed that their goal is to fight for a free and civilized Russia, to which they hope to one day return.
The following freed opposition figures expressed their gratitude not only to the German government but also to the USA and UK for their roles in securing their release.
The following difficult decision by the German government to hand over a convicted murderer was met with appreciation from opposition figure Ilya Yashin, despite his reluctance to be exchanged.
