Putin receives released prisoners at the airport
This is the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. President Putin personally awaits at Moscow's airport to welcome the eight released Russians - including hugs.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin welcomed the Russians released as part of an exchange with the West at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. "I want to congratulate you on your return to the motherland," he said, as shown on Russian state television, embracing several of the eight released prisoners.
Among those released on Thursday was Vadim Krasikov, known as the "Tiergarten murderer." He was sentenced to life in prison in Germany in late 2021 for shooting a Georgian man of Chechen origin in Berlin's Tiergarten in August 2019. The court found that Krasikov had committed the murder on behalf of Russian state authorities.
In addition to Russia and its ally Belarus, five Western states, including the US and Germany, were involved in the exchange. A total of 24 prisoners and two minors were released.
Russia released 15 prisoners, including four with German passports; the release of a German sentenced in Belarus was also secured. In exchange, according to the Russian security service FSB, eight Russian prisoners and two minors were able to return to Russia.
The released prisoners, including Vadim Krasikov, were warmly greeted by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin upon their arrival in Moscow. Subsequently, many of these former prisoners were still serving prison sentences in different countries.
