(VOVWORLD) - 24 people were released on Thursday in the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War era.
Two hostages from the US and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus were transferred to Turkey, the Anadolu news agency reported.
Ten of the hostages, including two children, were transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany, and 3 to the United States in the most comprehensive prisoner exchange between the US, Russia and Germany in recent years.
Russia's TASS news agency reported that the Kremlin extended its gratitude to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and to the countries that helped to organize the prisoner swap for returning Russians detained abroad.
US media reported that US President Joe Biden called the exchange “a feat of diplomacy and friendship” and praised Washington’s allies for their “bold and brave decisions.”