2024-08-03 07:18:39
Russia wants to release more prisoners held in the United States after yesterday’s large-scale exchange, DPA reported, referring to a post on the Telegram messaging application of the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov.
“Dozens of Russians are still in American prisons and look with hope to their homeland, waiting for the hour of release,” wrote Antonov.
“They are behind bars as a result of an international hunt for Russians by the US Secret Service,” he added, adding: “We will make every effort to proceed with the release and relief of all compatriots who are in the clutches of local justice”.
Many political prisoners held in Russian prisons also hope to be released.
After yesterday’s historic prisoner swap, fears grew that Russia could detain more Western citizens to try to exchange them for Russians serving sentences abroad.
Antonov congratulated the Russians released yesterday by the USA – the hacker Roman Seleznev, who was serving a 27-year sentence; Vladislav Klyushin, computer entrepreneur, sentenced to 9 years in prison for cybercrimes and suspected secret service agent Vadim Konoshchenok, charged with sanctions violation and dual-use goods smuggling.
They were met at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with the murderer Vadim Krasikov released from Germany and a Russian couple who were convicted of espionage in Slovenia, BTA writes.