Turkey's national intelligence organization MIT today conducted the largest prisoner exchange operation in recent times in Ankara. This was reported to BTA by the Communications Directorate of the Turkish Presidency.
During the action, 26 prisoners were exchanged from prisons of seven countries (USA, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus).
As part of the operation, the prisoners were transported to Turkey on seven planes, including two from the US and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia.
Ten prisoners, including two minors, were sent to Russia, thirteen prisoners - to Germany, three prisoners - to the United States.
Among the prisoners are the journalist from the "Wall Street Journal" Evan Gershkovich and US Marine Paul Whelan, imprisoned in the Russian Federation, German Rico Krieger, imprisoned in Belarus, Russian dissident Ilya Yashin and FSB Colonel Vadim Krasikov, imprisoned in Germany.