Putin's Rare Airport Visit Celebrates Prisoner Swap Success
In a rare public display, Vladimir Putin personally greeted a plane carrying released Russian prisoners at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. This event marked the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War.
Ten individuals, including spies, sleeper agents, and a convicted assassin, stepped off the plane to a hero’s welcome. “Welcome back to the Motherland!” Putin declared, embracing some of the returnees, including Vadim Krasikov, an FSB operative who had been serving a life sentence in Germany for the assassination of a Georgian-born Chechen dissident. Putin promised state awards for the returning prisoners, especially those with military backgrounds. “Thank you for your loyalty to your oath and duty to your Motherland,” he said, emphasizing that Russia had not forgotten them.
For the Russians, the reception was grand, with a red carpet, flowers, and a guard of honor. The pro-Kremlin media framed the swap as a significant victory. The government newspaper highlighted the return of “eight Russians jailed in NATO countries in exchange for individuals who acted against Russia’s national security,” while Komsomolskaya Pravda dismissed the released dissidents as traitors who had abandoned Russia.
The message from the Kremlin was clear: loyalty is rewarded. By celebrating the return of its agents, the Kremlin aimed to bolster patriotism and assure its operatives that they would be brought back home if things went wrong.
The swap’s success from Moscow’s perspective was evident. The Kremlin managed to secure the release of high-priority agents, including Krasikov, despite initial reluctance from Germany. This diplomatic achievement was underscored by headlines in Russian newspapers, with Rossiyskaya Gazeta proclaiming, “We’re returning our guys,” and Komsomolskaya Pravda declaring, “We don’t abandon our own!” This narrative aims to reinforce the message that Russia stands by its agents, no matter the circumstances.
