Massive Prisoner Exchange Frees Notable Dissidents Since Cold War’s End

Person pressing Prisoner Exchange button on virtual interface

Vladimir Kara-Murza’s release from a Russian prison marks a significant moment in the largest post-Cold War prisoner exchange.

At a Glance

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a dissident freed by Russia in a major prisoner swap, vows to return to Russia.
Kara-Murza initially thought he was being led to execution when prison officers fetched him at night.
The swap included a Kremlin hitman and was the largest since the Cold War.
Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years for high treason in April 2023.

The Largest Prisoner Exchange Since the Cold War

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and seven other dissidents were released in the largest international prisoner exchange since the Cold War era. The exchange involved 24 prisoners and underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions. Kara-Murza, a dual British-Russian citizen sentenced to 25 years for high treason in April 2023, was held in solitary confinement in a high-security jail.

Kara-Murza recounted the night he was taken from his cell, thinking he was going to be executed. He realized he was part of a prisoner exchange only after being transported to Moscow. The swap, which included high-profile US nationals and other Russian dissidents, in exchange for spies and criminals, highlights the precarious situation of dissenters under authoritarian regimes.

Our conversation with @davidjshipley at @PostLive today.

Discussed the recent East-West prisoner exchange, the experience of the modern-day Gulag, and what's next for Russia and for Putin.https://t.co/MtFvA2ceVd

— Vladimir Kara-Murza (@vkaramurza) August 14, 2024

Anxious Moments and High Stakes

The anxiety in Kara-Murza’s voice was palpable as he described the moment he was fetched by prison officers. He explained, “I was absolutely certain I would die in Putin’s prison.” It wasn’t until he reached Moscow that he understood he was part of an international prisoner exchange deal. This deal included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan. The Western countries involved in organizing the swap included the US, Norway, Poland, and Slovenia.

Kara-Murza met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy after his release. He is advocating for stronger Western support for Ukraine and the release of other political prisoners in Russia. His dedication to these causes remains unwavered, despite the personal risks he faces if he returns to Russia.

On @OutFrontCNN last night to talk about the surprise (certainly for me!) East-West prisoner exchange, what it’s like in a Siberian “special-regime” prison, and going forward in our fight against the Putin regime.

Segment 1:https://t.co/7UGuf4IDBZ

Segment 2:… pic.twitter.com/BWHAqHi9TI

— Vladimir Kara-Murza (@vkaramurza) August 13, 2024

Future Plans and Ongoing Struggles

Kara-Murza has not been deterred by his imprisonment. He argues that prisoner exchanges save lives, yet criticizes the delays that may have cost lives, including that of Alexei Navalny. His wife, Evgenia, continues to campaign for the release of other political prisoners with serious medical conditions. Kara-Murza’s health has deteriorated due to previous poisonings but he remains committed to his mission.

“When our plane was taking off from Vnukovo airport in Moscow en route to Ankara on 1 August, the FSB [Russian Federal Security Service] officer who was my personal escort sitting next to me turned to me and said, ‘Look out the window, this is the last time you’re seeing your motherland'” Kara-Murza said.

Despite being barred from Russia, Kara-Murza remains optimistic about returning to his homeland someday. He continues to condemn the war on Ukraine and urge for more robust Western support, believing in the possibility of democratic change in Russia following a military defeat.