By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Behind the Scenes of High Stakes Diplomacy and Negotiation
It’s a familiar phrase used by Russian officials when asked about potential East West prisoner exchanges words that have been circulating for months. This reflects the Kremlin's preference for behind the scenes deal making, "hostage diplomacy" conducted away from the media spotlight. It’s intelligence service talking to intelligence service, government to government, until Moscow secures what or rather whom it wants.
Despite the "silence," there were signals indicating movement. In a February interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin spoke about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia and charged with espionage.
“I do not rule out that Mr. Gershkovich may return to his homeland,” Mr. Putin said. “We want the US special services to think about how they can contribute to achieving the goals our special services are pursuing.”
This was a very public and unsubtle hint: Moscow was open to a deal. While the Kremlin leader did not name names, he made it clear whom Russia wanted in return: Vadim Krasikov, a suspected Russian agent serving a life sentence for murder not in America, but in Germany.
Fast forward to June. Evan Gershkovich’s closed door spy trial, dismissed as a “sham” by the Wall Street Journal and the US government, finally began in Yekaterinburg. The case was quickly adjourned until mid August. However, last month, the court unexpectedly brought the second hearing forward by more than three weeks. At the end of a rapid three day trial, Evan Gershkovich was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a penal colony.
On the same day, US Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was sentenced to six and a half years in prison by a court in Kazan, following a two day trial. The expedited nature of these trials suggested urgency hinting strongly that a deal had been arranged. The Russian authorities typically view a conviction as a prerequisite for any prisoner exchange.
Earlier this week, additional signals emerged with reports of prominent Russian political prisoners being moved from their penal colonies or detention centers. Speculation grew about the possibility of a larger prisoner exchange than initially anticipated. News from Belarus indicated that its leader, Alexander Lukashenko, had agreed to pardon Rico Krieger, a German citizen sentenced to death on terrorism and other charges. Could he be part of the swap?
Now, it is confirmed: this is the largest East West prisoner exchange since the Cold War. Western governments will welcome the release of foreign detainees and some of Russia’s most prominent political prisoners. Moscow will celebrate the return of its agents. Both sides will claim it’s a favorable deal.
However, if Russia concludes, as it has in the past, that "hostage diplomacy" is effective, it is concerning that this may not be the last time prisoners both foreign and Russian are used as bargaining chips.
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