Historic East-West Prisoner Exchange: A Slovenian Success Story

Slovenian officials celebrated a landmark East-West prisoner exchange involving the release of two Russian sleeper agents. This exchange, the largest in post-Soviet history, included the release of journalist Evan Gershkovich and American Paul Whelan, among others. The operation required extensive coordination with US and multinational allies.

Slovenian officials have lauded a historic East-West prisoner exchange that saw the tiny Alpine nation hand over two convicted Russian sleeper agents. The highly secretive negotiations with US officials culminated on Thursday with the United States and Russia completing their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history. Moscow released journalist Evan Gershkovich, American Paul Whelan, and several dissidents, freeing a total of two dozen individuals.

Central to the exchange was a Russian couple who had posed as Argentine citizens since relocating to Slovenia in 2017. The husband, operating under the name Ludwig Gisch, ran an IT startup, while his wife, with fake documents as Maria Rosa Mayer Muños, managed an online art gallery. Their real identities were revealed to be Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva.

Reportedly using the Slovenian capital as a base, the couple traveled to neighboring NATO and EU member states, executed orders from Moscow, and transported funds to other Russian sleeper agents. After their arrest in December 2022, they were each sentenced to 19 months in prison following coordinated guilty pleas. This plea change facilitated the prisoner exchange, which was bound by secrecy and international cooperation.

Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar commended the operation's execution, expressing gratitude for the tireless work of Slovenia's intelligence agencies and international partners. US President Joe Biden also thanked the allies involved, highlighting the collective effort of Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey.

(With inputs from agencies.)