01 August 2024 , 14:14
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One of Vladimir Putin’s top enemies – who is a Russian-British citizen – will be released from a penal colony as part of a high-profile exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West, it is understood.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was part of Russia’s beleaguered opposition, has been behind bars since April 2022, and has suffered two near-fatal poisoning attempts in the years before his arrest.
He is among a group of prisoners set to finally be released by the Kremlin as part of what may be the biggest swap since the Cold War.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan are part of the exchange, according to Bloomberg.
The parties have agreed to a prisoner transfer and the prisoners are expected to be in the care of US officials, according to a senior administration official.
Meanwhile, eight Russian nationals will reportedly be returned to Russia.
There has been no official confirmation from Western governments reportedly participating in the operation.
And Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked about reports of a looming major prisoner exchange, said: ‘I’m still not making any comments on this.’