Krieger released in major prisoner swap – report

August 1, Pozirk. Rico Krieger, a German national sentenced to death in Belarus and pardoned by Alaksandar Łukašenka last month, has been released in a major prisoner swap between Russia, the United States, Germany and Belarus, The Insider reported.
The White House confirmed that the exchange had begun.
According to The Insider, two US nationals, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, were released from Russian prisons. They had been sentenced to 16 years behind bars.
In addition, Russia is expected to free several prisoners whose persecution was widely regarded as politically motivated, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin and Andrey Pivovarov.
In return, it will receive Russians imprisoned in the USA and the European Union, including Vadim Krasikov, a Russian with links to the Federal Security Service serving a life sentence in Germany for an assassination.
Turkey’s NTV broadcast footage of a Russian plane landing in Ankara. Local journalists said live that the exchange involved 26 people.
BelPol: Krieger deceived by Belarusian security agents
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja looking for ideas ahead of New Belarus ConferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus wood pellet industry in deep crisis following EU sanctions and failed evasion attempts, report saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyPole gets 30 months in prison for smuggling Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEnding Ukraine war hinges on several people, Łukašenka saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportUkraine urges 30 international federations to maintain restrictions on Belarusian athletesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHouse of Representatives approves ratification bill for agreement with Togo on visa-free travel for officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to repair road at Bieniakoni checkpoint until July – border committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat pushes for EU sanctions on Łukašenka's regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyPoland cracks down on cigarette smuggling ring linked to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks expanded ties, visa facilitation with PhilippinesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk blames EU sanctions for irregular migration crisis since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: KGB intensifies raids on blacklisted university’s alumni and familiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka allocates $1.2 million for restoring Orthodox monastery, $94,000 landmark Catholic churchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka tells media newly appointed official to keep up propagandaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityAnalysis: irregular migration via Belarus eases significantly compared with 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyBelarusian transport ministry says its delegation held talks with ICAO in ItalyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyAI enables cancer surgery for patients who would have formerly been denied treatment, official saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+



