The US agrees on a prisoner exchange deal with Russia to bring back home 3 Americans
The United States announced a multinational prisoner exchange deal with Russia on Thursday last week, resulting in the return of three American detainees. At least two notorious Russian cybercriminals are among those being sent back to Russia as part of the arrangement.
Key Details of the Exchange
Among the Russians returning home is Roman Seleznev, also known as Track2. The 40-year-old son of a Russian MP was sentenced to 27 years in prison in the United States in April 2017 for his involvement in a scheme that compromised point-of-sale systems to siphon victims' credit card details. These stolen details were then sold on the infamous Carder[.]SU marketplace.
Seleznev was also involved in a $59 million identity theft and bank fraud ring, leading to a concurrent 14-year sentence. Videos circulating online show Seleznev and other freed Russian prisoners shaking hands with President Vladimir Putin upon their arrival back in Russia.
Another notable Russian being sent home is Vladislav Klyushin, the owner of security penetration testing firm M-13. Klyushin was sentenced to nine years in the US in September 2023 for his role in a $93 million insider-trading scheme. Arrested in Switzerland in 2021 and later extradited to the US, Klyushin faced charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized computer access, and conspiracy, and was found guilty in February 2023.
On its end, Russia has released three Americans: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual Russian-American reporter with Radio Free Europe. Russian-British green card holder and Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was also freed. All four were described by the White House as being "unjustly" detained in Russia.
International Cooperation
President Joe Biden hailed the deal as "a feat of democracy," emphasizing the collaborative effort between the US and several allies, including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. The negotiation led to the release of 16 people from Russia, including seven Russians who were political prisoners and five Germans.
As expected, the move has garnered mixed reactions, with some praising the successful negotiation and others expressing concern over the potential implications of releasing convicted cybercriminals back to Russia. As the details of the exchange continue to emerge, the broader impact on international relations and cybersecurity remains to be seen.
