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US Reporter Released by Russia in Multi-Country Prisoner Swap

22 points by jmsflknr 2y ago

waihtis 2y ago
Interestingly, most of the released Russians are in one way or another involved in cybercrime, including hacking, crypto and other malicious ops.
- ttyprintk 2y ago
  Viktor Bout was already traded for a basketball player. Feels like Russia is rounding out their team.
- etc-hosts 2y ago
  of course the main reason was to free Vadim Krasikov, who shot Zelimkhan Khangoshviliat at noon in a Berlin park.
kotaKat 2y ago
On the other hand, it sounds like we probably are gonna let Gordon Black sit in the gulag for four years over there, though he did a little more than just "espionage"... https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-stops-paying-soldier-imprisoned-russia-may-prosecute-him-2024-07-30/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-stops-paying-soldie...
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paxys 2y ago
I'm happy they are coming back but at this point the government really needs to take the hard stance that if you go to Russia for any reason, you are on your own.
- deleted 2y ago
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dredmorbius 2y ago
Archive / paywall: <https://archive.is/7OJFK https://archive.is/7OJFK>
cedws 2y ago
So Russia takes mostly innocent Westerners hostage and we’re forced to let evil people go to free them? There should not be any more bailouts after this. If you travel to Russia, you’re on your own. It’s not justifiable letting FSB hitmen free.
- ttyprintk 2y ago
  Half of those hitmen die soon thereafter on a cold basement floor. The theater is to show wishy-washy FSB who might attempt defection that, even in the custody of a satellite state, Russia can always reach/liberate them.
- bez00m 2y ago
  Among released 16 prisoners only 6 are Westerners, and even among those 2 or 3 have Russian citizenship as well. So Putin just swaps Russian citizens for other Russian citizens and that’s why it’s such a big deal - it’s the first time I can think of when West plays along with Russian democratic opposition so bold.
- hsyehbeidhh 2y ago
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22 points by jmsflknr 2y ago

Interestingly, most of the released Russians are in one way or another involved in cybercrime, including hacking, crypto and other malicious ops.

ttyprintk 2y ago
Viktor Bout was already traded for a basketball player. Feels like Russia is rounding out their team.
etc-hosts 2y ago
of course the main reason was to free Vadim Krasikov, who shot Zelimkhan Khangoshviliat at noon in a Berlin park.

kotaKat 2y ago

On the other hand, it sounds like we probably are gonna let Gordon Black sit in the gulag for four years over there, though he did a little more than just "espionage"... https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-stops-paying-soldier-imprisoned-russia-may-prosecute-him-2024-07-30/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-stops-paying-soldie...

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paxys 2y ago

I'm happy they are coming back but at this point the government really needs to take the hard stance that if you go to Russia for any reason, you are on your own.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

dredmorbius 2y ago

Archive / paywall: <https://archive.is/7OJFK https://archive.is/7OJFK>

cedws 2y ago

So Russia takes mostly innocent Westerners hostage and we’re forced to let evil people go to free them? There should not be any more bailouts after this. If you travel to Russia, you’re on your own. It’s not justifiable letting FSB hitmen free.

ttyprintk 2y ago
Half of those hitmen die soon thereafter on a cold basement floor. The theater is to show wishy-washy FSB who might attempt defection that, even in the custody of a satellite state, Russia can always reach/liberate them.
bez00m 2y ago
Among released 16 prisoners only 6 are Westerners, and even among those 2 or 3 have Russian citizenship as well. So Putin just swaps Russian citizens for other Russian citizens and that’s why it’s such a big deal - it’s the first time I can think of when West plays along with Russian democratic opposition so bold.
hsyehbeidhh 2y ago
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