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
- PoliticsŁukašenka’s flattering birthday message to Xi contrasts with that to TrumpThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyLatvia reports highest number of irregular crossings since October 2023The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyOpposition leader commemorates victims of mass deportations from Baltic statesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s office suspends volunteer analyst over KGB leak fearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyIrregular Belarus-Latvia crossings exceed 5,000 since late MarchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNigerian MPs to visit Belarus this monthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: jailed media managers among dozens branded “extremists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Security, SocietyAir raid alert in Lithuania’s Vilnius county near Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- 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



