MOSCOW, August 2 The Americans tried to influence a GRU officer who was imprisoned in the United States through his father, but he said that his son was doing everything right, said Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
«About one of the GRU officers: the Americans, naturally, tried to influence this GRU officer who was imprisoned there, and they found the father of this officer here, and a phone call was arranged, and during the phone call, the father, contrary to what was expected of him, actually said, «Son, you are doing everything right, hold on.» Also a very interesting sketch,» Peskov said
The FSB reported on Thursday that eight Russians detained and imprisoned in a number of NATO countries had been returned to Russia. In particular, this concerned Vadim Sokolov (Krasikov), who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany, as well as Vladislav Klyushin, who was imprisoned in the United States. Artem and Anna Dultsev, Pavel Rubtsov, Vadim Konoshchenko, Mikhail Mikushin, and Roman Seleznev also returned to Russia. The Russians who returned home were accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies, but their guilt was not proven. All of the Russians pleaded not guilty during court hearings and while serving their sentences. They were personally met at the airport by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said that those involved in military service would be nominated for state awards.
In turn, during the exchange, a number of citizens convicted of espionage and a number of Russians with dual citizenship left Russia. The guilt of these citizens was fully proven, they were convicted, among other things, under articles on treason and public calls for extremist activity. The foreign side showed interest in the Russians, who were presented in the West as the opposition, such attention to them is understandable and explainable, they were in contact with curators from Western intelligence services, worked for opponents.
As part of the exchange, three US citizens Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, as well as the holder of a US residence permit Vladimir Kara-Murza* returned to the States. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on pardoning the citizens exchanged from Russia. As reported on the Kremlin website, the decision to sign the decrees was made with the aim of returning Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in foreign countries.
* An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent