Brittney Griner behind bars in Russia, wrongfully detained on bogus drug charges and enduring a sham trial before her release in a high-stakes prisoner swap with the U.S.
When it comes to prisoner swaps with Russia, you’re playing a dangerous game, one that some U.S. leaders are wary of. Recent swaps, like the large one between Russia and the West this past August, raise serious concerns. Why? Because deals like this could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging Russia to continue using hostages as bargaining chips. And Finland may be next in line for this kind of blackmail.
Senior Analyst Petteri Lalu from Finland’s
Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) warned that Finns in Russia—or even
those just passing through—could find themselves in Moscow’s clutches, used as
leverage to free Russian nationals held abroad. Russia, after all, has a track
record of using “hostage diplomacy,” swapping prisoners they consider important
for Russian spies or criminals locked up in Western countries. This isn’t a
hypothetical situation; it’s happening right now.
Just take Vojislav Torden as an example. He’s a member of the neo-Nazi group Rusich and was detained at Helsinki airport in July 2023. Currently under investigation by Finnish authorities for war crimes committed in Ukraine, Torden is the kind of person Russia would love to have back. Lalu warns that if Torden is of the same importance to Russian leadership as the prisoners involved in the recent August swap, there’s no reason Moscow wouldn’t use hostage diplomacy against Finland too.
And we’ve seen how these swaps play out.
In August, Moscow handed over 16 prisoners, including both Western citizens and
Russian political prisoners, in exchange for eight convicted spies. It’s a move
straight out of the Kremlin’s playbook, and it echoes past swaps, like the 2019
deal between Russia and Ukraine. Back then, 35 prisoners were exchanged on each
side, with Ukraine hoping this would be a step toward peace. But any hopes of
easing tensions were dashed when Russia resumed its aggressive policies soon
after.
And, of course, the Griner case. In
December 2022, the U.S. and Russia pulled off a big-time prisoner swap, trading
Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout—aka the "Merchant of Death"—for
American basketball star Brittney Griner. Griner's arrest in Russia was a mess
from the start. She was slapped with bogus drug charges for a tiny amount of
cannabis oil found in her luggage, and her trial was nothing short of a sham.
Despite being innocent, she got hit with a ridiculous nine-year sentence in a
Russian penal colony.
This swap brought her back home after
months of unjust imprisonment, shining a light on how Russia uses these
political detentions for leverage. While Griner’s return was celebrated across
the U.S., it also reminded everyone how Russia plays the hostage game when it
suits them. Meanwhile, Russia welcomed Bout, whose release had been a high
priority for Moscow.
So, where does this leave us? Some U.S.
leaders worry that every new swap just gives Russia more leverage, emboldening
them to use hostages to manipulate the West. As one political figure put it,
these exchanges can encourage bad behavior, and we’ve seen it before.
But here’s the big question: How do you feel about prisoner swaps with Russia? Are they a necessary evil in global diplomacy, or do they just enable Russia’s hostage-taking tactics? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I want to know your take!
Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.
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