Two Russian dissidents, Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, were released in a prisoner swap on Thursday, where they refused to sign a petition for mercy to be sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin as requested by prison officials. During a news conference in Germany, the two men stated that they did not admit guilt or give consent to be removed, and vowed to return home one day.
Mr Kara-Murza emphasized that the prisoner swap had saved “16 human lives” and expressed his belief that he would die in prison. He also highlighted the opposition of many Russians to Putin’s war in Ukraine. The exchange involved 24 people jailed in seven different countries, including US journalist Evan Gerschkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan released by Russia.
The freed dissidents, along with another dissident Andrei Pivovarov, pledged to continue working towards a “free” Russia and advocating for political prisoners still held there. They acknowledged the hundreds of political prisoners currently in Russian jails and paid tribute to Putin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February.
Despite their release, Mr Yashin noted that the exchange was just a “drop in the ocean” compared to the number of innocent people held in torturous conditions in Russia. He criticized Putin for Navalny’s death and emphasized the distinction between Russia and Putin.
The White House revealed that Navalny was supposed to be included in the deal, prompting Mr Yashin to declare Putin’s direct responsibility for his murder. The dissidents’ determination to continue their fight for a free Russia serves as a reminder to democratic countries that Russia and Putin are not synonymous.
