Plane with Russian political prisoners landed in Germany - Scholz made statement
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (photo: Getty Images)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed wishes for the release of all prisoners held by Russia, reports BILD.
The plane carrying the released prisoners landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport at 10:37 p.m. local time (11:37 p.m. Kyiv time). Scholz personally met the freed individuals as part of the agreement with Russia.
The Chancellor also made statements regarding the prisoner exchange.
"I wish those who are still in Russian prisons today to find a way to freedom," the German leader said.
He described the current exchange as the right decision and noted that it was a special moment for him.
"We are a society that values the idea of freedom. We also returned German citizens who might otherwise have been in danger," Scholz added.
Major prisoner exchange between the West and Russia
On August 1, a large-scale prisoner exchange took place between Russia and Belarus, and several Western countries.
Russia released political prisoners and unlawfully convicted Americans and Germans to Germany and the US. In return, Moscow and Minsk handed over several spies, a killer, and other criminals.
Among those released by Russia were Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan.
The Insider has published a detailed list of names exchanged by Russia in this large-scale swap with the West.
