Putin Thanks Saudi Prince for U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday for his role in the historic U.S.-Russia prisoner swap.

American journalist Evan Gershkovich and U.S. marine Paul Wheelan returned home after being freed following the largest prison swap between the U.S. and Russia on August 1.

Gershkovich and Whelan were accused of espionage by the Kremlin, a charge they and the U.S. government had consistently denied.

"Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince played an active role in the initial stages of this work. We are very grateful to him, as it resulted in the return of our citizens to the homeland," Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum.

High-profile detainees being turned over to Russia in the swap include an assassin, a pair of sleeper agents, and a hacker linked to the targeting of the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016.

After nearly a year of secret negotiations, Russia and Belarus released sixteen detainees while the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, and Norway collectively released eight detainees and two minors.

The prisoner exchange, which involved 24 detainees and is regarded as one of the most complex in history, occurred at Ankara Esenboğa Airport in Turkey, with the Turkish government acting as a mediator between the parties.

Putin also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for helping to facilitate the deal.

Putin and bin Salman have cultivated a close relationship in recent years following the prince's visit to Russia in 2015.

Meanwhile, Putin has claimed he supports Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential reaction.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, Putin claimed Russia's "favorite" was formerly President Joe Biden before he withdrew from the race in July, but that the country would now "support" Harris.

"I told you our favorite, if you can call it that, was the current President, Mr. Biden. He was removed from the race, but he recommended all his supporters to support Ms. Harris. So we will do the same. We will support her," Putin said.

Putin also said that Harris "laughs so expressively and infectiously."

The remarks come after Washington accused Moscow of spreading disinformation to influence the U.S. election.

Earlier this week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) called for Mongolia to arrest the Russian President as he visited Mongolia for bilateral talks on a new gas pipeline connecting Russia and China.

Elina Beketova, Democracy Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told Newsweek that the visit shows Putin can travel without "consequences.".

"Putin knows that he is unlikely to face arrest in a country economically dependent on Russia and China.

"This situation sends a clear signal: "So what?" It shows that Putin can travel freely and act with impunity. There should be international political and economic consequences for Mongolia. Without a reaction,

"Putin may continue to move and travel without any repercussions. If there are no real consequences, it means we live in a world without law.

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