A Kremlin spokesperson says he has “no comments” when asked about the highly speculated Russia-US prisoner swap.
The Kremlin declined to comment on reports of an imminent Russia-US prisoner swap as speculation over the swap between Russia and Belarus, the United States, Slovenia, and Germany has grown.
A Kremlin spokesman was asked about whether a potential prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States was set to begin imminently, and if US citizens Paul Whelan Evan Gershkovich are on the list for the exchange.
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin responded, “No, I still don`t have any comments on this topic”.
A Russian government plane, that was used previously to exchange political prisoners, was seen landing in Kalinigrad before flying back to Moscow, according to data from the live flight tracking site Flightradar24.
The plane, with tail number RA-61727M, was previously used to exchange Viktor Bout, Konstantin Yaroshenko and Nadezhda Savchenko.
It is assumed the exchange of the political prisoners took place on the border of Poland, although this remains unconfirmed.
Movement of high-profile individuals
Ilya Yashin, a well-known critic of the Kremlin, was moved from prison along with other high-profile individuals. The movements prompted speculation on social media about whether they were in preparation for a prisoner swap.
Ivan Pavlov, lawyer and founder of Department One legal group said “the situation is unique in the sense that we hear several high-profile figures are being moved at the same time. Given the number (of prisoners being moved), we understand that a swap is expected”.
The whereabouts of former Navalny campaign chiefs Lilia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeeva, artist Sasha Skochilenko, politicians Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara- Murza, human rights activist Oleg Orlov, teenager and German citizen Kevin Leake convicted of treason, and American Paul Whelan convicted of espionage are currently unknown.
The exchange could also include Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who was imprisoned on espionage convictions.
The American TV channel, Fox News, reported earlier the journalist had been pardoned for exchange in the United States.
