The Photos That Defined Russia in 2024 – The Moscow Times

On Aug. 1, Russia and the West carried out a historic prisoner exchange that saw 16 prisoners freed by Russia and eight freed by the West. Russia released the likes of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, opposition leaders Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, Navalny deputies Ksenia Fadeeva and Lilya Chanysheva, artist Sasha Skochilenko and more, in addition to U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan. Moscow received convicted murderer and FSB officer Vadim Krasikov, a family of “illegals” residing in Slovenia, businessman Vladislav Klyushin and others.

In this photo, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva reunites with her family on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.