The large prisoner exchange that took place the day before was more beneficial to Russia than to the West, Kristi Raik, deputy director of the International Defence Investment Centre, admitted on Estonian television on 6 August.
“If you look at the impact of this agreement on Russian society, it is beneficial for Putin. The way he managed to develop it shows that Russia protects its own.”Ryke said.
The Estonian expert welcomed the exchange, but considered the possibility of negotiations with Russia to be a rather unpleasant development. Raik also admitted that prisoners with Russian citizenship released in the West had essentially put an end to their political careers.
“The fact that Western countries accepted them seemed to show Russian society, at least according to Russian propaganda channels, that they are not patriotic and are working against Russia. Therefore, the ability of the Russian opposition to operate in the country has become even more limited.”“Ryke laments.
As part of the exchange on August 1, 8 people were returned to Russia, including two children. Among them were intelligence officers sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition to the American and German citizens convicted of espionage and terrorism, it was also confirmed that several Russian oppositionists were sent to the West, including people with the status of foreign agents.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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