• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Putin hit man seen as Russia’s big prize in prison swap: ‘High-value asset’

by August 1, 2024
written by August 1, 2024

In the biggest prisoner swap with Moscow since the Cold War, the Biden administration on Thursday secured the liberation of 16 American and German nationals held prisoner in Russia and Belarus in exchange for the release of eight Russians. 

The top of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s list was hit man Vadim Krasikov, who used the cover name Vadim Sokolov and was convicted by a German court for the 2019 assassination of a former Chechen commander near Berlin’s parliamentary building. 

‘Krasikov is a high-ranking colonel in the elite Spetsnaz unit of the FSB,’ Rebekah Koffler, former DIA intelligence officer and author of ‘Putin’s Playbook,’ told Fox News Digital in reference to Russia’s intelligence agency the Federal Security Service (FSB).

‘Krasikov is a very high-value asset who will be debriefed by the Russian security services on the operation, how he got apprehended, what he learned during the interrogations in Germany, and everything the Russians are interested in,’ she explained. ‘These debriefings will help the Russians to make improvements in their operational tradecraft for Russian intelligence.’

Koffler also said it is likely the Putin operative will be used to train ‘would-be assassins for future operations, making them even more lethal and difficult to detect and apprehend. … Putin also wants to show to would-be recruits that he would personally get involved in getting his people out if they are caught. It’s a huge recruitment incentive.’

Reuters reported that Krasikov, who was born in Kazakhstan in 1965 while it was still part of the Soviet Union, became a specialist assassin while working for the FSB, according to Bellingcat reporting. 

Despite multiple witnesses to his assassination of the Chechen commander, which was carried out in daylight, Krasikov pleaded innocent and maintained he was a St. Petersburg construction engineer visiting Berlin as a tourist who went by the name Sokolov.

Though he was never directly confirmed as an agent by Moscow, Putin indirectly spoke of Krasikov in 2023 when he expressed a desire to secure the release of someone who ‘eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals.’

Ukraine’s Security Service helped investigators identify the Russian FSB agent after obtaining footage of the man during his second wedding held in Kharkiv in 2010. 

According to Reuters reporting, Krasikov never recognized the court during his trial and frequently refused to listen to the translation of the proceedings provided to him.

Reports have suggested the prisoner swap would not have taken place without the release of Krasikov, placing an enormous weight on the shoulders of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

‘Our obligation to protect German nationals and our solidarity with the USA were important motivations,’ the German government said Thursday, according to a Reuters report.

President Biden also championed Germany’s efforts in the prisoner swap and said, ‘I particularly owe a great sense of gratitude to the chancellor.’

‘The demands they were making to me required me to get some significant concessions from Germany,’ he said. ‘But everybody stepped up. Poland stepped up, Slovenia stepped up, Turkey stepped up.’

‘It matters to have relationships. It really does,’ Biden added.

Among the prisoners set to return to the U.S. are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, along with legal permanent resident Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The other 12 prisoners to be brought back from Russia are all German nationals who were held as political prisoners. 

The massive swap involved at least seven countries over a number of months to pull all the Russian prisoners requested by Moscow from the U.S., Germany, Norway, Slovenia and Poland, the White House said on Thursday.

‘There has never been, so far as we know, been an exchange involving so many countries, so many close U.S. partners and allies working together,’ National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.  ‘It’s the culmination of many rounds of complex, painstaking negotiations over many, many months.’

Biden called the historic swap a ‘a feat of diplomacy.’

‘Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,’ he said in a statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Does Roblox Q2 earnings signal a gaming industry rebound?
next post
US stocks tumble amid weak economic data: What went wrong?

related articles

Vance visits church where Christians believe Jesus was...

October 23, 2025

New poll in key showdown for Virginia governor...

October 23, 2025

Americans could face airport chaos if Dems don’t...

October 23, 2025

Inside Trump’s ultimatum that forced Netanyahu to the...

October 23, 2025

Vance rebukes Israel on ‘very stupid’ vote to...

October 23, 2025

Top Republican slams Katherine Clark for admitting suffering...

October 23, 2025

Vance calls Psaki comments about wife Usha ‘disgraceful’

October 23, 2025

Trump yet to endorse in VA governor’s race...

October 23, 2025

DAVID MARCUS: Trump’s ballroom is no vanity project,...

October 23, 2025

Examining the next threat from Communist China: Our...

October 23, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Trump blasts Harris as part of Truth Social flurry on what she ‘didn’t mention’ in DNC speech

    August 23, 2024
  • MARK HALPERIN: Democrats try to construct a Frankenstein candidate while JD Vance gains momentum for 2028

    June 6, 2025
  • CFPB expands oversight of digital payments services including Apple Pay and Cash App

    November 22, 2024
  • ‘Make Bitcoin Great Again’: Trump and GOP’s presence looms over annual crypto gathering

    July 29, 2024
  • Dyan Cannon denied White House entry after lying about her age on passport documents

    August 30, 2025

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,506)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (941)

Latest Posts

  • Trump touts ‘rebuilding and modernization’ of US air traffic control, blasts Buttigieg for having ‘no clue’

    May 8, 2025
  • Trump celebrates conservative party win in Germany

    February 23, 2025
  • A U.S. construction boom is sending rents lower and creating perks for renters

    August 14, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Hegseth directs DOD civilian workforce to comply with Musk’s DOGE productivity email

    March 3, 2025
  • Former Republican U.S. senator endorses Kamala Harris, says election offers ‘stark choice’

    September 26, 2024
  • EURUSD and GBPUSD: GBPUSD is approaching the 1.32000

    September 16, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Sen. Rand Paul pledges to get Trump’s cabinet picks approved ‘as quickly as possible’

    December 22, 2024
  • What are election betting odds? Expert explains why Trump is current favorite

    October 22, 2024
  • Vance pauses North Carolina speech for boy who said he ‘skipped school’ to ask for a selfie

    September 24, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock