Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned, signing decrees, 13 prisoners who were released today as part of an exchange with Western countries.

This decision was taken in order to return to the country the “Russian prisoners” held abroad, the Kremlin announced.

In the statement, the Kremlin expresses its gratitude to all countries that helped prepare the exchange and, in particular, to the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who showed goodwill and pardoned German Rico Krieger, who had been sentenced to death.

Russia’s FSB security service confirmed that “eight Russian citizens held in various NATO countries as well as two minors” have returned to Russia.

“Russian citizens were exchanged with a group of individuals who acted in the interests of foreign governments and to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation”, added this announcement broadcast by Russian agencies.

According to the Kremlin’s announcement, Putin pardoned Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Oleg Orlov, Lilia Chanycheva, Ksenia Fadegeva, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Alexandra Skotsilenko, Alsou Kurmasheva, Andrei Pivovarov, Vadim Ostanin, Demuri (Dieter ) Voronin and Kevin Leek.