The EU and NATO on Thursday welcomed the discharge of opposition figures and journalists held in Russia in a prisoner swap carried out in Türkiye’s capital in Ankara.
“The European Union is relieved by the release and transfer to freedom outside Russia and Belarus of a number of political prisoners, including EU citizens, facilitated with the help of Türkiye,” international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated in a press release by the bloc’s External Action Service.
Noting that the launched people have been unjustly persecuted in Russia and Belarus for political causes, Borrell burdened that these nonetheless detained should be launched “immediately and unconditionally.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen additionally welcomed the releases. She claimed the Kremlin swapped “innocent” EU, U.S. and Russian residents for “convicted criminals and murderers.”
As a part of the swap, 10 prisoners, together with two youngsters, have been transferred to Russia.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) led an intensive prisoner trade involving seven international locations on Thursday the place 26 people have been exchanged and transported to Ankara.
Seven plane from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and two from the U.S. transported the prisoners to Türkiye as a part of the operation. Thirteen people have been later transferred to Germany, 10, together with two youngsters, to Russia, and three to the U.S.
Thanking all actors who helped make the deal potential, EU Council President Charles Michel stated: “I welcome the release of 16 people unjustly imprisoned by the Russian regime.”
“EU will continue supporting and standing for all those illegally detained in Russia and elsewhere,” Michel added.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, echoed Michel’s assertion and welcomed the trade. “Their freedom should have never been in jeopardy,” she added.
NATO WELCOMES SWAP OPERATION
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated he welcomed the discharge of “wrongfully detained Allied citizens and Russian political prisoners.”
Praising shut cooperation between NATO members for this effort, he stated: “The right to peaceful opposition and freedom of the media are vital for any functioning society.”
The group’s spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah additionally known as for all these nonetheless “wrongfully detained” to be launched.
Source: www.anews.com.tr