Why Putin thinks he's the winner in prisoner swap
It’s a rare occasion for Vladimir Putin to personally visit an airport, but he did just that last night. At Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport, he met and greeted Russians returning from foreign jails, part of a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, the largest since the Cold War.
Among those disembarking from the plane were ten individuals, including spies, sleeper agents, and a convicted assassin. Putin welcomed them with, “Congratulations on your return to the Motherland!”
The Kremlin clearly viewed the event as a major triumph. The returning Russians were met with a red carpet reception, a guard of honor, bouquets of flowers, and, for some, personal hugs from President Putin. Among them was Vadim Krasikov, an FSB operative who had been serving a life sentence in Germany for the assassination of a Chechen dissident.
Putin promised state awards to all those returning. He addressed those with military backgrounds, expressing gratitude for their loyalty and commitment: “Thank you for your loyalty to your oath and your duty to your Motherland, which has never forgotten you for a moment.”
The pro-Kremlin press is currently amplifying another message: celebrating the return of those freed from Russian prisons while disparaging those who were exchanged. The government paper reports, “Eight Russians jailed in NATO countries have returned to the Motherland in exchange for individuals who were acting against Russia’s national security.”
Komsomolskaya Pravda denounces the released dissidents, suggesting they have abandoned their homeland for those who employed them. By discrediting critics and opponents while lavishing praise on loyal supporters, the authorities aim to present the prisoner swap as a significant victory for the Kremlin.
The Kremlin clearly views the prisoner swap as a significant victory. It secured the return of its agents, including Vadim Krasikov, who was at the top of its priority list. Initially, German authorities were reluctant to release Krasikov, a convicted assassin who had been found guilty of acting on behalf of Russian interests.
However, their stance softened as a broader agreement was negotiated.
Russian newspapers today reveal the Kremlin’s motivation. Rossiyskaya Gazeta headlines with “We’re returning our guys,” while Komsomolskaya Pravda asserts, “We don’t abandon our own!” This messaging is designed to reassure Russian agents and spies that the Kremlin will go to great lengths to ensure their return if missions abroad face difficulties.
