Not again!

Yes, again. Only this time it’s not just one, but several prisoners, removed from sight without warning or explanation. And they’re not American or other foreign hostages, but Russians, all imprisoned for “criticizing the military” or for their previous work with the late Alexei Navalny.

It came to light today when Tatyana Solomina, the attorney for Ilya Yashin, reported on the Telegram messaging app that her client has been moved from the prison in which he has been serving an 8-1/2-year sentence for criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine, to an “unknown destination.” Her statement provided no further details.

It was noted, however, that several other Russian political prisoners have also been moved. Three of those named — Oleg Orlov, Lilia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva — are already on my list of Putin’s hostages, as is Ilya Yashin himself.

A fifth person — artist/musician Aleksandra Skochilenko — is new to me; she is serving seven years for “replacing price tags in a supermarket with messages decrying civilian deaths in Ukraine.” [Jim Heintz, Associated Press, July 30, 2024.]

And convicted of a different category of crime is German-born Russian citizen Kevin Liik, sentenced to four years for allegedly providing information to German special services — also removed from his prison. [Associated Press, id.]

There has been speculation on social media as to whether this might indicate a possible forthcoming prisoner swap. But with whom, and for whom? Prisoner exchanges are generally made between countries, as in the case of American basketball star Brittney Griner being traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. But here we have six Russian citizens. For whom would they be traded, and where would they go after being released? Or does this activity have nothing whatsoever to do with an exchange? Then what?

If these six are to be released, why them, and why now? Could the whole thing be a public relations ploy — a small concession to show the world what a good-hearted guy Vladimir Putin is? Is it part of a psychological game designed to keep everyone guessing? Or is it simply a routine shuffling of the prison population?

There are far too many unanswered questions here, and — as I seem to be saying so often of late — we can only wait, and hope for the best. In Russia, it is never wise to jump to conclusions.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/30/24