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The British Government has been called upon to impose a travel ban on its citizens heading to Russia, amid escalating concerns regarding the risk of state-sponsored kidnappings. This comes in the aftermath of a significant prisoner exchange between the UK and Russia, marking the largest such event since the Cold War.
Sir Bill Browder, a prominent financier and vocal critic of the Kremlin, has advocated for a travel restrictions policy, particularly highlighting the case of his friend, Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was released in this historic swap. Kara-Murza, a dual national and long-time Putin opponent, had been sentenced to a staggering 25 years on politically driven treason charges in 2023.
Sir Bill emphasized the urgent need for legislative changes to protect British nationals from falling prey to what he describes as the “regular” occurrence of hostage-taking endorsed by the Kremlin. He expressed his views on the BBC’s Today programme, stating, “We should make it illegal for British citizens to travel to Russia. It is a perilous destination akin to North Korea.”
With UK and EU direct flights to Russia suspended following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign Office currently advises caution, urging British citizens to avoid travel to the country due to the requirement of travel visas for foreigners.
Backing his call, Sir Bill suggested that citizens from the US and EU should also face a travel ban to Russia. Several EU countries have already taken steps to prevent Russians from entering their territories.
Kara-Murza is now expected to reunite with his family in Washington, though he is presently in Germany following his release. The Kremlin has urged the freed prisoners to conceal their identities, with Dmitry Medvedev, the former president of Russia, warning them to engage in active disguise and seek witness protection.
In discussions regarding Kara-Murza’s situation, Lord Cameron, a former foreign secretary, brought the issue to the attention of American officials multiple times, advocating for his inclusion in any potential exchanges. Former chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee Alicia Kearns also played a crucial role in negotiations alongside the US hostage team.
British involvement in the prisoner swap was limited, as there were no Russians in UK custody that Moscow sought in exchange, according to sources. The Foreign Office has yet to issue a statement regarding the situation.
Concerns have been raised in Germany about Russia’s potential for increased kidnappings for leverage in diplomatic talks. A senior hostage diplomacy expert commented on the risks of creating a precedent for arbitrary detentions, stating, “While we celebrate the freedom of the hostages, we must be wary not to inadvertently enable further state-sponsored hostage-taking.”
This prisoner swap has drawn significant scrutiny, especially regarding the release of Vadim Krasikov, a notorious hitman linked to the assassination of a Chechen dissident in Berlin. Inga Schulz, representing the victim’s family, expressed her devastation over Krasikov’s early release, highlighting the troubling implications for justice.
Concerns About Hostage Diplomacy
In the United States, prominent Republican leaders have cautioned that the recent exchange may embolden further aggressive actions by Russia. Mitch McConnell and Mike Johnson issued a statement asserting that without robust measures to deter hostage-taking by adversarial states, the likelihood of such incidents will increase.
They noted, “As we reiterate calls for the return of all wrongfully detained individuals, we recognize that trading serious criminals for innocent lives does little to mitigate Putin’s unethical actions.”
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