The prisoner exchange with Russia

Kremlin: Krasikov works for Russian security services

Vadim Krasikov, the Russian convicted torpedo extradited to Russia in the prisoner exchange, works for the Russian security service FSB. The Kremlin confirms this on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Krasikov in a German prison allegedly told a German guard that "Russia will not leave me to rot in prison."

Krasikov was convicted in a German court after murdering a Chechen former commander in a park in 2019. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed after the prisoner exchange that it was a difficult decision to release him.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the prisoner exchange, which includes 24 people and is the largest since the Cold War, could be carried out after negotiations between the FSB and the US CIA.

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Russian torpedo welcomed by Putin - to receive a medal

At the same time as several released prisoners landed on American soil, Russian President Vladimir Putin received several Russian spies and convicted murderers who were included in the prisoner exchange.

Pictures from Moscow show how the president, among other things, shakes hands with the torpedo Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted of murder in Berlin. Putin states that the released prisoners will be awarded medals, according to Reuters.

A total of eight prisoners returned to Russia from countries in the West. 16 prisoners were released from Russia, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza.

US presidential candidate Donald Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and questioned the lack of details about the agreement.

"Our negotiators are always a shame for us," he writes.

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Evan Gershkovich happy after the return: "I feel good"

The released prisoners gave brief comments to the media after landing in the United States in connection with the prisoner exchange with Russia, writes the New York Times.

- I'm fine, says Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.

Former Marine Paul Whelan says he sang the US national anthem every day in captivity. He was also asked about what he wants to say to others who have been imprisoned abroad.

- Hold on, we're coming to pick you up, he says.