Russian citizens involved in a complex exchange of prisoners with Western countries, arrived late in Moscow and were met at the airport by President Vladimir Putin, DPA and Reuters reported, citing BTA, citing Russian media articles.
Putin has said that all eight returnees will receive Russian state awards. He also told them that their homeland "has not forgotten them for a minute".
According to the agencies, the returnees also met with the head of the FSS intelligence service Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin and the Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov.
Among the eight returnees are Vadim Krasikov, convicted by a German court of the murder of a Chechen dissident in Berlin, and two men convicted of cybercrimes in the US - Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznyov.
Two out of eight returnees to Russia are minors, Reuters recalls.
Two planes with released prisoners landed at Cologne airport after the large-scale exchange of prisoners, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that he would meet with the former prisoners. He cut short his holiday and has also landed at Cologne Airport.
Five of those released are German citizens.
Scholz described a prisoner swap with Russia and its partner Belarus as a difficult decision, especially in light of the release of Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for killing a Chechen exile in broad daylight in a central Berlin park in 2019. Mr.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described his meeting with the prisoners freed in the massive swap between several countries as "very touching". Many of them had not expected their release and were still filled with emotions from the sudden freedom they experienced after landing at Cologne airport.
"Many of them feared for their health and even their lives," Scholz said. "That is why it is also important that we have now provided them with this protection here."
A total of two planes landed at the airport with 13 people on board. Three other released prisoners flew directly to the USA, DPA notes.
After meeting with the released prisoners, Scholz said the exchange was the right decision.
"If you had any doubts about that, you lose them after talking to those who are now free,'' Scholz said. "The fact that those who should have feared for their lives, because they stood up for democracy and freedom, they can count on the protection of others, it is part of our self-esteem as a democratic, humanistic society," he stressed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries.
"I welcome today's release of illegally detained allied citizens and Russian political prisoners," the NATO chief said in a publication in "X".
"Close cooperation between #NATO allies made this achievement possible. The right to peaceful opposition and media freedom are vital for any functioning society," he stressed.
Russia, Belarus and several Western countries exchanged a total of 26 prisoners at Ankara airport in an unprecedented operation involving Turkish intelligence.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the released prisoners, while criticizing Moscow, the Associated Press noted, cited by BTA.
"I welcome the release of 16 people unjustly imprisoned by the Russian regime," said Michel in "X".
"Alsu, Evan, Pavel, Vladimir and others, your place is at home with your families and loved ones! I thank all those, also in Europe, who helped to make the diplomatic deal happen. The EU will continue to support and advocate for all those illegally detained in Russia and elsewhere."
Von der Leyen also welcomed "the release of innocent EU and US citizens and respectable Russian democrats held captive in Russia". However, she lashed out at Moscow, adding: "The Kremlin exchanged them for convicted criminals and murderers. This shows the sharp difference".
"This is a moment of great joy for all those who have fought for their freedom," emphasized the President of the EC.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, also expressed the "relief" of Brussels from the release of "unjustly persecuted" prisoners, reported France Press.
"The European Union is relieved by the release and transfer to freedom outside of Russia and Belarus of a number of political prisoners, including European citizens, with the help of Turkey,", Borel stressed.
The family of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich expressed their "relief" and "joy" after the release of the American reporter, held since March 2023 by Russia as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange, notes AFP.
"We waited 491 days for Evan's release and it's hard to describe how we feel today. We can't wait to hug him and see his gentle, brave smile up close," wrote the journalist's parents and sister - Ella Milman, Mikhail Gershkovich and Daniela Gershkovich, who are of Russian origin.
In their statement, they added that they "share the relief and joy" with the families of the other Americans released yesterday.
The human rights organization Amnesty International also welcomed the exchange of prisoners with Russia, but warned of the consequences of such deals, DPA notes.
"I am really very relieved that (Alexandra) Skochilenko, Oleg Orlov and the others will now be free. They have experienced incredible things," said Christian Mihr, Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany. In some cases, they were denied adequate medical care or contact with relatives while in custody, he pointed out.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be using political prisoners as leverage, manipulating law and order to advance his own interests, Mihr noted.
"That is why the exchange has a bitter aftertaste. A murderer and other criminals convicted in a fair trial are now going free in exchange for people who only exercised their right to freedom of expression," the human rights activist added.
"Thus, the Russian government can feel emboldened to carry out further political arrests and human rights violations without fear of any consequences," he stressed.