World leaders have shown a mix of relief and concern in the wake of a massive prisoner swap between Russia and the West — the biggest in post-Soviet history.
ADVERTISEMENTRelief, cautious optimism and, in some cases, tension. Thursday's landmark prisoner swap between the US and Russia has prompted a range of reactions from leaders across the globe.
As part of the deal, 24 prisoners held in seven countries have been freed — 16 from Western nations and eight from Russia.
Among those released by Moscow include journalist Evan Gershkovich and politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, while Washington has set free Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 of killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services.
President Joe Biden lauded the exchange as "a feat of diplomacy and friendship", paying tribute to the US's international partners for their "bold and brave decisions" and help in securing the deal.
"This would not have been possible without our allies," he said on Thursday. "Today is a powerful example of why it's vital to have friends in this world."
More negative noises came from the Kremlin however, describing those it had released as "enemies" and telling them to stay away from Russia, according to the state-owned TASS news agency.
"Let the traitors now feverishly pick up new names and actively disguise themselves under witness protection programmes," said former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Moscow was not the only one to strike a less-than-congratulatory tone. Germany had been the centre of furious debate over Krasikov's release, with Berlin describing the decision to set him free as "not an easy one".
Nevertheless, Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared more hopeful. In a series of posts on X, he said he looked forward to welcoming the 16 released German prisoners home and that he wished all those released "good health and fast recovery in the company of friends and family".
"I am convinced that this was the right decision," Scholz said. "We are a society shaped by humanism. These 16 people fought for democracy and freedom — they can count on our protection."
'A moment of great joy'
For the UN, the news was cause for celebration, with High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressing his "relief" over the swap, emphasising the importance of journalistic freedom and human rights.
NATO, which played a crucial role in the negotiations, also welcomed the release of the prisoners.
"We welcome the release today of several political prisoners from Russia. The deal that secured their freedom was negotiated by several NATO allies working together," said spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the "stark difference" between the prisoners held by the West and those by Russia.
"I welcome the release of innocent citizens from EU & US and upright Russian democrats held captive in Russia," she said in a post on X. "The Kremlin swapped them for convicted criminals and murderers."
ADVERTISEMENT"This is a moment of great joy for all who have fought for their freedom," she added.
UK welcomes 'dedicated opponent of Putin’s regime'
Across the channel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed their support for the release of British citizens and other prisoners.
Lammy specifically highlighted the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent dissident and critic of the Kremlin, who had been imprisoned in what many described as life-threatening conditions.
"Mr Kara-Murza is a dedicated opponent of Putin’s regime," Lammy stated, adding that Kara-Murza "should never have been in prison in the first place".
ADVERTISEMENTStarmer echoed his words, emphasising the UK's ongoing commitment to defending freedom of political expression and calling on Russia to respect these fundamental rights.