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So Russia takes mostly innocent Westerners hostage and we’re forced to let evil people go to free them?

There should not be any more bailouts after this. If you travel to Russia, you’re on your own. It’s not justifiable letting FSB hitmen free.

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Half of those hitmen die soon thereafter on a cold basement floor. The theater is to show wishy-washy FSB who might attempt defection that, even in the custody of a satellite state, Russia can always reach/liberate them.

Among released 16 prisoners only 6 are Westerners, and even among those 2 or 3 have Russian citizenship as well. So Putin just swaps Russian citizens for other Russian citizens and that’s why it’s such a big deal - it’s the first time I can think of when West plays along with Russian democratic opposition so bold.

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