US hands over Russian national Alexander Vinnik in Türkiye

The United States handed over Russian national Alexander Vinnik in Türkiye as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the U.S., state media reported late Thursday.

Vinnik was later flown to Moscow, where he reunited with his family.

Türkiye’s role in prisoner swap

Vinnik’s lawyer, Arkady Bukh, told Russian state news agency TASS that his client was first flown to Türkiye before being transferred to another flight to Moscow.

‘We have received an update on the whereabouts and status of our client, Mr Vinnik. We have been informed that our client arrived by plane to Türkiye, from where he was sent on another flight to Russia.

His arrival at the Moscow airport is expected in the next few hours,’ the agency interlocutor emphasised. – In addition, we confirm that the US federal court recently held a hearing on Mr Vinnik’s case.

However, according to the judge’s decision, the materials of the hearing were classified and we are not authorised to comment on its content and the course of the hearing’.

Alexander Vinnik’s lawyer, Arkady Bukh

According to reports, the exchange process involved Vinnik arriving in Türkiye, where he was then sent on a separate flight to Russia.

Türkiye once again played a crucial logistical role in facilitating the transfer of Vinnik between the U.S. and Russia, serving as a transit point in the high-profile prisoner exchange.

Vinnik thanks Russian and US presidents for release

In an interview with Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti, Vinnik confirmed his arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport and said he was home with his family.

He expressed gratitude to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump for his release.

“I want to thank everyone. The President. First of all. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. (Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov. Our chief diplomat. Everyone… And I can also thank Trump. Well, in general, without him, it probably would have been difficult,” Vinnik said.

Details of Vinnik’s extradition and legal history

Vinnik was initially taken into custody in Greece in 2017 at Washington’s request on allegations of cryptocurrency fraud.

He was later extradited to France in 2020, where he was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years in prison.

In May 2024, he pleaded guilty before a U.S. court to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He had been awaiting sentencing in the United States before being released as part of the prisoner swap.

Prisoner exchange between Russia and US

Russia and the United States confirmed a prisoner exchange on Wednesday, which led to Vinnik’s release in return for American teacher Marc Fogel.

Fogel, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2021, was freed as part of the agreement. Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat, landed at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington, D.C. late on Tuesday evening, before he was welcomed home by President Trump at the White House.

Trump, standing alongside Fogel in the White House, said: “To me he looks damned good.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agreement to release prisoners was the result of meticulous negotiations.

“Of course, such agreements are hardly capable of becoming a breakthrough moment but at the same time, bit by bit, these are steps to build mutual trust, which is now at its lowest point,” he added.

In 2024, Türkiye hosted the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, involving 24 individuals, where Russia released Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the United States.

That swap back in 2024 was coordinated by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT).