The Russians, released as part of a major swap with the West in Ankara, arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo airport and were met personally by President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian President arrived at Vnukovo Airport to meet Russians who returned home as a result of prisoner exchange. This was reported on the official website of the Kremlin.
“Putin met the Russians who returned after the exchange at the plane's steps,” a RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the scene. The heads of key security agencies also arrived at the airport: FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov also arrived there.
According to the FSB, those returned include Vladislav Klyushin, who was held in the United States, and Vadim Sokolov (Krasikov), who was serving a life sentence in Germany. Other Russian citizens returned home with them: Pavel Rubtsov, Artem and Anna Dultsev, Vadim Konoshchenko, Mikhail Mikushin, and Roman Seleznev, all of whom were imprisoned in various NATO countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated all Russians released on Thursday as a result of the exchange on their return to their homeland, expressed special gratitude to those involved in military service, and promised to present all those who arrived with state awards.
Putin met the Russians at the plane's steps, greeting them with a handshake and hugs. Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany, was the first to come out of the plane to the president. Artem and Anna Dultsev's children came out of the plane together with them. The president hugged Anna Dultseva, who came out of the plane with tears in her eyes, and presented the returning Russian and her daughter with bouquets of flowers.
“First of all, I want to congratulate you on your return to your homeland,” – Putin said, greeting Russians at the airport terminal “Vnukovo-2”He also addressed those of them who are related to military service and thanked them. “for loyalty to the oath and one's duty.”
“You will all be nominated for state awards. We will see each other again, talk about your future. Now I want to congratulate you on your return to your homeland.”– the head of state said.
Putin assured his compatriots that the Motherland cares about them “I didn't forget for a minute.”
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