Who are ‘ace cards’ of historical Ankara prisoner swap?

The complex web of espionage, political maneuvering, and international intrigue continues to deepen as the cases of Vadim Krasikov, Artyom Dultsev, Anna Dultseva, and Evan Gershkovich unfold.

Each of these figures represents a unique facet of the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, highlighting the stakes involved in the shadowy world of intelligence and statecraft.

Who are the four most important figures in the historic prisoner swap in Ankara, Türkiye?

Vadim Krasikov

Vadim Krasikov, a former high-ranking Federal Security Service (FSB) colonel, continues to serve a life sentence in a German prison for the 2019 murder of former Chechen fighter Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten.

Krasikov’s conviction, handed down in 2021, underscores the German court’s assertion that he acted on behalf of the Russian state, carrying out the execution-style killing in broad daylight.

Krasikov’s Target: Zelimkhan Khangoshvili

Khangoshvili, a veteran of the Chechen wars against Russian forces, had relocated to Georgia after surviving several assassination attempts. Wanted in Russia on terrorism charges, he was a prominent adversary of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow’s persistent efforts to repatriate Krasikov

The Kremlin has been vocal about its desire to secure Krasikov’s return to Russia. In 2022, Moscow sought his release as part of a proposed prisoner exchange that included Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.

In return, the U.S. sought the release of U.S. citizens Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner. However, when the U.S. was unable to secure Krasikov’s release, Russia refused to release Whelan, despite the Biden administration offering other individuals for the exchange.

Earlier this year, a top aide to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny claimed that Navalny was close to being exchanged for Krasikov before he mysteriously died in a Russian penal colony. These claims, however, have not been independently confirmed by any sources.

Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva

Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, a married couple who spent years undercover as Argentine expats in Slovenia, have returned to Russia following a historic prisoner exchange.

The couple, who acted as “illegals” – spies living under false identities – were welcomed back to Russia along with their two children, Sofiya, 11, and Daniil, 9.

During an interview with Russian state television, the couple discussed the emotional moment when they revealed their true Russian identities to their children, who had grown up believing they were Argentine.

The revelation occurred on the flight back to Russia, marking a pivotal moment in the children’s lives, who had spoken Spanish with their parents and were unaware of their true origins.

Spies like Artyom and Anna Dultsev live abroad for years under assumed identities. The Dultsev family’s situation mirrors that of a similar couple who returned to Russia in 2010 as part of a prisoner swap, after raising their sons under the guise of being Canadian citizens. The couple’s deep cover in Slovenia involved posing as real estate and antique traders, according to local reports.

“Illegals” are among Russia’s most valuable spies, meticulously trained for years to master the language and customs of foreign nations. These operatives are then sent abroad on missions that can span decades. While all espionage involves deception, the role of an illegal is uniquely intense and personal. These agents must maintain a web of lies, not only to the outside world but also to those closest to them, including their own children, for years on end.

Arrests in Slovenia

Authorities in Slovenia arrested two foreign nationals on Dec. 5, 2022, suspected of spying for Russia. The suspects, who had assumed false identities from a South American country, were apprehended in a rented office in Ljubljana’s Bezigrad district. The arrests were reportedly carried out by the Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency in collaboration with other countries’ security services.

Increased scrutiny on Russian spies in Europe

The arrests in Slovenia are part of a broader crackdown on alleged Russian espionage across Europe, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Security services in Germany have also made arrests related to espionage within their own foreign intelligence agency.

Evan Gershkovich

Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old journalist fluent in Russian, was hired by The Wall Street Journal shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. With more than five years of experience reporting on Russia, Gershkovich is the son of emigres who left the Soviet Union for the United States during the Cold War.

When was he arrested and what is he accused of?

Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, while dining at a steakhouse in Yekaterinburg, approximately 1,400 kilometers (900 miles) east of Moscow. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Moscow, where he was held in Lefortovo Prison, a facility used by the FSB security service and its predecessor, the Soviet KGB, for suspects accused of espionage and other serious crimes.

Prosecutors allege that Gershkovich was collecting information at the behest of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency about a Russian company that manufactures tanks for the war in Ukraine. Gershkovich has denied the charges in court, and prosecutors have requested an 18-year prison sentence.

US and Russian positions on case

U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned Russia’s treatment of Gershkovich as “totally illegal,” accusing Russia of using him, alongside Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned on spying charges in 2020, as bargaining chips. The United States has labeled both men as wrongfully detained, indicating that it considers the charges against them to be baseless and politically motivated.

The Wall Street Journal maintains that Gershkovich was simply performing his duties as a journalist, accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to report on the country. The newspaper has dismissed the trial proceedings as a sham.

In contrast, the Kremlin asserts that Gershkovich was “caught red-handed,” though no evidence has been published to substantiate this claim. Russian authorities insist that the case is a matter for the courts to decide.

Conduct of trial

Gershkovich’s trial commenced on June 26 in Yekaterinburg, the city where he was arrested. Journalists were permitted to film Gershkovich before the trial but were barred from attending the hearings, which were held behind closed doors due to the case’s involvement with state secrets. His lawyers are bound by non-disclosure agreements, preventing them from discussing the trial with the media.