Russian Prisoner Swap: Eight Nationals Return Home

Eight Russian nationals, involved in a complex prisoner swap with Western countries, returned to Moscow and were received by President Vladimir Putin. The returnees, including individuals convicted of cyber crimes and murder, were honored with state awards for their service.

Eight Russian nationals arrived in Moscow on Thursday night after a complex prisoner swap with Western countries. They were greeted at the airport by President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian news agencies.

Putin was quoted as saying that the returnees would receive state awards and assured them that their homeland had 'not forgotten them, not for a single minute.' Also present at the airport were FSB head Alexander Bortnikov, SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin, and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

The returnees included Vadim Krasikov, convicted in Germany for murdering a Chechen dissident, and two individuals convicted of cyber crimes in the United States, Vladislav Klyushin and Roman Seleznev. Two minors were also among those returning.

(With inputs from agencies.)