‘I see it as an illegal expulsion against my will’

Newly freed Russian opposition politicians Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and Andrei Pivovarov hold first press conference since their release

On August 1, 2024, Russia and multiple Western countries carried out a historic prisoner swap that saw Moscow release 16 political prisoners. On Friday, newly freed Russian opposition politicians Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and Andrei Pivovarov held their first post-exchange press conference in Bonn, Germany. Meduza shares key quotes from the event in English.

On the exchange itself

Ilya Yashin

Jailed for speaking out against Russian atrocities in Bucha

“In exchange for the release of one murderer, they released 16 innocent people. That’s a tough dilemma. It will motivate Putin to take new hostages. I understand this, and I think [German] Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz understands it. But I’m confident that regardless of the reactions, Putin would continue taking hostages. Because that’s what dictators always do.”

“From my first day behind bars, I said that I wasn’t prepared for an exchange. I publicly asked not to be included in any exchange lists. This was my deliberate position. I refused to leave Russia under the threat of arrest, seeing myself as a Russian politician and a patriot. I understood my imprisonment not only as an anti-war fight but also as a fight to live in my country and engage in independent politics here.”

“I don’t view what happened to me as an exchange. I see it as an illegal expulsion from Russia against my will. I’ll be honest: more than anything right now, I want to return. My first wish was to go immediately to the airport, buy a ticket, and return to Russia. But it was made clear to me that return would make it impossible for there to be any other swaps in the future.”

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Vladimir Kara-Murza

Jailed for condemning war in Ukraine

“I feel like I’m watching a movie. A week ago, I was still in my cell. Yesterday, I was in Lefortovo remand prison. Then suddenly I was being driven here along the picturesque banks of the Rhine. It’s hard to shake the surrealness of everything happening.”

“A lot of traditions from the past have returned to our life: totalitarian rule, aggressive wars, and disregard for human rights. But it’s encouraging to see the return of positive traditions as well. One of them is leadership and support in freeing prisoners of conscience.”

“Ilya Yashin, I, and many of our other comrades [who were freed] categorically refused to write pardon requests addressed to citizen Putin. Nevertheless, we’re sitting here because the [pardon] orders were signed.”

Andrei Pivovarov

Jailed for heading the pro-democracy and human rights movement Open Russia

“Some people might say that there weren’t so many people freed [in this prisoner swap]. Sixteen. But many of my friends have just been saved from death. I was struck by the words of Vladimir Kara-Murza: ‘I won’t survive.’ This hit me hard, and this was important.”

On Russia’s future

Ilya Yashin

“The honest answer [to whether I’ll continue my political career] is that I don’t know how to engage in Russian politics outside of Russia. That’s not a skill I have. But it’s one I’ll definitely learn. And I’ll try to be effective, and I’ll try to be honest with myself and the people who trust me — the people for whom my words and actions matter.”

“Changes happen in our country when nobody is expecting them. I can assure you: that’s how it’s going to happen next time as well. Political changes in Russia come abruptly, suddenly, and unexpectedly. And it’s important for people to understand this not just in Russia but in the West as well.”

Vladimir Kara-Murza

“In Russia, there are a lot of people speaking out against Putin’s war in Ukraine. Don’t believe the propaganda. Every day [in prison], I received stacks of letters from all over the country. People weren’t afraid to openly write that they were against the war, even including their names and addresses in the prison correspondence. Don’t confuse the Putin regime with Russia.”

“The regime of Vladimir Putin is not just an authoritarian regime — it is a regime of murderers.”

On Alexey Navalny

Ilya Yashin

“[Alexey] Navalny was supposed to be in Russia. To take part in elections. To lead the country, to live a long life. To benefit his country and bring joy to his family. The fact that Navalny isn’t with us is a crime of Vladimir Putin, who bears direct responsibility for his murder.”

Vladimir Kara-Murza

“What happened to Alexey Navalny was a clear and terrifying reminder that what we call a ‘prisoner exchange’ is actually about saving lives. It’s hard for me not to think about the fact that if certain process had moved faster, Alexey might have been alive and free today.”

Andrei Pivovarov

“Navalny, with his fearlessness and upbeat demeanor, got us used to seeing torture as something ordinary. After all, torture was part of the conditions in which he lived. And when you’ve been through something like that yourself, you realize the amazing strength of will that required.”