Photo: depositphotos
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decrees granting clemency to 13 individuals who were held in Russian prisons and detention centers and were released as part of a prisoner exchange with Western countries. This was reported by the Kremlin press service.
Among those granted clemency are:
- Evan Gershkovich, correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
- Politician Vladimir Kara-Murza.
- Lilia Chanycheva, former head of Navalny’s office in Ufa.
- Politician Ilya Yashin.
- Ksenia Fadeeva, former head of Navalny’s office in Tomsk.
- Andrei Pivovarov, politician and former director of “Open Russia.”
- Paul Whelan, former American Marine.
- Alsu Kurmasheva, journalist for “Radio Free Europe.”
- Oleg Orlov, former co-chair of the “Memorial” center.
- Sasha Skochilenko, artist.
- Demuri (Dieter) Voronin, political scientist linked to one of the episodes of journalist Ivan Safronov’s case.
- Kevin Lik, 18, convicted of treason.
- Vadim Ostanin, former head of Navalny’s office in Barnaul.
Photo: Dmitry Serebryakov/AP/picture alliance
The list of those granted clemency does not include Patrick Shebel, accused of drug smuggling, and cyclist activist Herman Moises, as their verdicts had not been issued in Russia.
The Kremlin press service expressed gratitude to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko “for the goodwill gesture and the pardon of the German citizen Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death.”
According to media reports, under the deal between Moscow and Minsk, 16 people were released. The “Meduza” website reported that three U.S. citizens and one green card holder released by Russia are heading to the United States.
In a statement, U.S. President Joe Biden noted that former Marine Paul Whelan, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, and “Radio Free Europe” journalist Alsu Kurmasheva are “returning home.”
In response, the U.S., Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Poland have also released:
- Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a sentence in Germany for murder.
- Artem and Anna Dulchevs, convicted in Slovenia of espionage.
- Mikhail Mikushin, accused of espionage in Norway.
- Pavel Rubtsov, an alleged GRU agent.
- Roman Seleznev, sentenced in the U.S. to 27 years in prison for credit card fraud.
Source: newsru
