The exchange of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko for American Marine Trevor Reed last April took place on the runway at Ankara airport.
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This was reported by The Wall Street Journal with reference to Turkish and American officials.
According to the newspaper, Reed was accompanied on board from Russia to Turkey by members of the FSB Alpha special forces. After the Russian plane landed in Ankara, US Special Representative for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens allegedly boarded the plane and was supposed to recognize Reed.
The Wall Street Journal claims that Russia and the United States have agreed to ban photography and video recording. At the same time, the publication publishes several photographs of the runway. The photographs show members of the Russian and American delegations accompanying Yaroshenko and Reed.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the same Turkish airport was used by Russia and Ukraine to exchange Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, arrested on charges of treason, for Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Azovstal defenders in Mariupol.
The newspaper calls the exchange that Moscow and Kyiv held on September 22 last year more difficult in terms of agreements, since neither side wanted to enter into negotiations on the exchange. Ukraine allegedly said it did not trust the Russian side and demanded the identification of the captured military personnel.
The exchange took place after the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, boarded the Ukrainians, took photographs of them and sent them to Kyiv.
The Wall Street Journal writes that the plane with 10 foreigners – participants in hostilities on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – was accompanied by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.
Trevor Reed came to Moscow to visit his girlfriend in the spring of 2019 to, as he said, learn Russian. An American was arrested in Russia on August 16, 2019, on charges of assaulting a police officer.
At trial, Reed said he would not plead guilty. In July 2020, the court sentenced the former marine to nine years in a general regime colony. American media wrote that Reed subsequently went to fight against Russia on the side of Ukraine and was injured.
Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in 2010 in Liberia on charges of preparing to transport a large quantity of cocaine. In September 2011, an American court found him guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Last October, the President of Russia included Yaroshenko in the Public Chamber.
Ukraine exchanged Viktor Medvedchuk for 215 Ukrainian military personnel, including five commanders of the Azov regiment. In addition, Russia returned 56 of its military personnel from Ukrainian captivity.
“Azovites” were supposed to stay in Turkey until the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine, but in July 2023 they returned to their homeland, and then to the front.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.