Russia Sentences Opposition Activist to 25 Years in Prison
Landmark Prisoner Swap Brings Detainees Home
A Russian court has sentenced veteran opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on treason charges. This marks the longest sentence ever handed down to an opposition figure in Russia.
Meanwhile, American journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan were among the 24 detainees released as part of a complex prisoner swap. Some of the planes involved in the swap have landed in Germany and Poland.
Notable Russian Prisoner Released
The landmark prisoner swap, agreed upon by Russia, the United States, and several of its allies, has brought home Gershkovich and Whelan. The most notable Russian prisoner released as part of the swap is Vadim Krasikov, who was jailed for life in Germany for the 2019 murder in Berlin.
This prisoner swap highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West. While the release of Gershkovich and Whelan is a welcome step, the harsh sentence handed down to Kara-Murza serves as a chilling reminder of the suppression of dissent in Russia.
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