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
- Elections, PoliticsGeneral Bobrykaŭ, Čamadanava pull out of presidential raceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja meets with Spain’s secretary for EU affairsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKaleśnikava’s picture published after 21 months incommunicadoThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsRussian drone incursions reported third night in a rowThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBrest region’s prosecutors lecturing kindergarten children about genocideThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka pushes for closer ties with Serbia despite tension over EU sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus’ trade deficit widens to $356 million in January-SeptemberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: mass arrests continue despite pardon for jailed protestersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolitically-motivated cases account for third of KGB investigationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityRussian drone incursions reported this morningThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsŁukašenka offers food security to Botswana, AngolaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsForeign ministry: Belarus formalizes BRICS partner statusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader praises Poland’s "steadfast friendship" on Independence DayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Society
- Security
- EconomyFinance ministry earmarks $4.5 billion to cover 2025 foreign debt paymentsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyFinance ministry met its obligations to most Eurobond holders – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomySocial programs, roads and industries are priorities for 2025 – finance ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician, Polish senator discuss integration of Belarusians in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyRussia's Red Wings cuts flights to Minsk over reduced subsidiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Security
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja calls on democracies to stand up against tyrannyThe material is available only to POZIRK+