German ministers acknowledge 'sensitive' decision in prisoner swap

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described his meeting with prisoners released in the major multi-nation swap as "very moving," reported dpa.

Scholz said that many of the prisoners had not expected their release and were still filled with emotion at the sudden freedom they were experiencing after landing at Cologne/Bonn Airport.

After meeting with the released prisoners, Scholz said the exchange was the right decision. "If you had any doubts about that, then you lose them after talking to those who are now free," Scholz said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday described the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and several Western states - including a high-profile prisoner held in Germany - as a "highly sensitive dilemma."

"Nobody in the German government made the decision lightly," the top German diplomat said in a radio interview with BR24 with regard to the release of Vadim Krasikov, who was set free as part of the exchange on Thursday. Overall, however, she said it had been a "day of relief."

Krasikov had been sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 shooting a Georgian of Chechen descent in the heart of the German capital.

In total 26 detainees and several countries were involved in the swap, including two high-profile US citizens: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US marine Paul Whelan.

Her fellow Cabinet member, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, said the prisoner exchange was the result of successful negotiations, and argued for a dose of realism.

"I believe that the Chancellery negotiated brilliantly in this instance, and that it achieved good results... One can obviously end up arguing over it, because one thing is totally clear: One man's sorrow is another man's joy in this case," he said one the sidelines of a visit to South Korea.

The key point is that innocent people had been freed from Russian jails, he said.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday publicly thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his role in the large-scale prisoner exchange, explaining that Scholz had agreed to make "significant concessions" in order for the swap to go ahead.