Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has assessed the “qualitative composition” of the prisoner exchange between the Russian and US sides.
As he wrote in his Telegram, the exchange was the result of filigree work by Russian agencies and foreign “partners.” At the same time, he noted that Western countries in this process showed at a certain point “both due pragmatism and a propensity for reasonable compromises.”
“It was difficult, but nevertheless everything took place and, let’s be frank, in our favour, which has already been reported by the Western media and politicians of all stripes….. Let’s assess the “qualitative composition” of the exchange. Who has our country returned? These are the people who have faithfully worked for the Fatherland, being part of the special services or in one way or another contributing to the interests of Russia,” he said.
According to Medvedev, the returned Russians did their work at the risk of their lives, for the sake of Russia’s prosperity. He noted that there is no doubt that the returnees are “patriots of our Fatherland.”
In return, however, the US gave two types of prisoners: on the one hand, they were foreigners convicted of espionage, and everything is clear with them – they were working in the interests of their countries.
“But the second part – these are Russian citizens who set their life goal as the destruction of their own country … Let’s put it bluntly – they are traitors. If not in the legal, then, at any rate, in the moral sense of the word …. They are the servants of our enemies,” he added.
Earlier, US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump congratulated Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the swap deal with a number of Western countries, calling it “magnificent”.