Türkiye’s role in facilitating a prisoner exchange between Russia and the US last week is a testament to the trust both powers place in Ankara, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The August 1 swap, the largest since the Cold War, involved the return of eight Russian nationals previously detained in the West in exchange for 16 individuals, including two convicted American spies.
“The exchange operation that took place in Ankara, as we can see, proves that both the US and Russia consider Türkiye a partner that can be trusted,” Fidan stated on Monday in Cairo, during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.
“The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) coordinated the operation with its American and Russian colleagues from the very beginning,” added Fidan.
Washington has hailed the exchange as “a feat of diplomacy” and expressed gratitude to the Turkish government for making it possible. The US also acknowledged the contributions of Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Norway for releasing imprisoned Russians as part of the swap.
President Vladimir Putin personally greeted the plane carrying the returning Russians at Moscow’s Vnukovo-2 airport. Among those returned was Vadim Krasikov, an intelligence operative convicted in Germany of assassinating a Chechen separatist who was wanted in Russia for war crimes.
Meanwhile, the US secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, RFE/RL employee Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, among others. Kara-Murza is a dual citizen of Russia and the UK who also holds an American green card.
All of the individuals Russia sent to the West received pardons as part of the exchange.