Egypt Daily News – President Vladimir Putin thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud during a plenary session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, for his role in facilitating the recent prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States.
This exchange, which occurred on August 1st, marked the largest such operation in recent years, involving the transfer of 26 prisoners from seven different countries.
Putin highlighted the involvement of multiple nations in the negotiation process, noting that the Crown Prince had actively participated in the initial phases of discussions related to the case of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, whom Russia accused of espionage.
The Russian President expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, which played a significant role in this diplomatic effort leading to the repatriation of Russian citizens detained abroad.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Putin acknowledged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for providing a venue for discussions, as well as other countries, both Arab and non-Arab, that showed goodwill throughout the negotiations. He emphasized that the primary achievement of the exchange was the safe return of citizens to their homeland, including those who had undertaken special missions for Russia.
The exchange resulted in Russia reuniting with its citizens who held in Western countries and accused of espionage in return for 16 individuals, encompassing Americans, Germans, and Russians incarcerated in Russia on various charges.
