WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 2, 2024 – In the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, Russia and the U.S. freed a total of 24 people after months of negotiations and concessions from European countries. Among those freed were prominent journalists, political dissidents, and alleged sleeper agents. Despite this latest development, experts believe it is unlikely the Russian-U.S. relationship will grow closer.
Anna Borshchevskaya, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, stresses that while this development is positive, past swaps have not resulted in better relations.
“In fact, the Putin regime is likely to continue detaining Americans and others to use as bargaining chips in negotiations,” said Borshchevskaya. “With the death of outspoken critic Alexei Navalny, who was scheduled to be part of this release before his death in a Russian prison, organized opposition has taken a hit. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s hold over state media and its stifling of any dissent has only gotten worse, leaving most Russians either unaware of what their government is doing or unwilling to criticize it.”
Of the prisoners, journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, along with former Marine Paul Whelan, touched down in Maryland late Thursday night, greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who negotiated the deal. This is the latest in a series of prisoner swaps between the Kremlin and the White House, with many heralding this sweeping development as a diplomatic triumph for the Biden Administration’s final months.
Despite the success of this deal, experts note the remaining prisoners in Russia who have not been released are still waiting to come home and will require further negotiations.
“As we celebrate and welcome the release from Russian prisons of these political prisoners, it’s worth noting that Putin holds an estimated thousand more political prisoners whose crimes are often nothing more than speaking out against the government,” said Borshchevskaya. “We can be sure the Russian government will continue to use these hostages to press for release of its own imprisoned individuals around the world, consisting largely of those with violent or otherwise criminal histories the Russian state might use to further its anti-US agenda.”
Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East, focusing on Russia’s policy toward the region.
