Ilya Yashin released

Ilya Yashin, a prominent Russian opposition leader, has expressed his strong desire to return to Russia after being released in a significant prisoner swap on August 1. Despite his release, Yashin emphasized that he did not consent to his deportation, viewing it as an illegal expulsion rather than a genuine exchange, and stated he would not seek a pardon from President Putin, whom he labeled a 'war criminal.' In a press conference in Bonn, Germany, he stated that returning to Russia could jeopardize future prisoner exchanges and compared his potential fate to that of Alexei Navalny, who died in custody. Yashin has made it clear that he will not accept life in exile and is committed to continuing his political work in Russia. His comments were corroborated by fellow activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who also did not agree to the terms of the exchange. The swap involved multiple detainees and marked the largest such exchange in nearly 15 years.