By John Ikani
Russia has released 10 foreign prisoners of war captured while fighting in Ukraine, including a Moroccan, Brahim Saadoun who was sentenced to death “for being a foreign fighter in Ukraine.”
A plane carrying 10 prisoners of war arrived from Russia to Riyadh on Wednesday following successful mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and sources familiar with the matter.
The Saudi Crown Prince had been in direct contact with the Kremlin and Ukraine as part of the mediation efforts for the release of the prisoners, which included five British citizens, the Moroccan, one Swede, one Croat, and two Americans.
They will soon be returned to their home countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing sources familiar with the mediation.
There are ongoing efforts to secure a prisoner swap of 50 Ukrainians in exchange for 200 Russians, including what reports indicate could be one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close allies, Viktor Medvedchuk. Medvedchuk was captured by Ukrainians in April.
It is unclear whether Wednesday’s prisoner release was part of that specific deal.
