Russian dissidents vanish amid possible prisoner swap talks

In recent days, many dissidents or individuals imprisoned for criticizing the authorities have "disappeared" from Russian penal colonies, Reuters reports. Human rights defenders speculate this may be linked to a possible prisoner exchange with the West.

As previously reported by the Russian independent outlet Meduza, six political prisoners, including human rights defender Oleg Orlov and oppositionist Ilya Yashin, were transported from colonies and detention centers to unknown locations. Their lawyers and relatives do not know what is happening to them.

On Wednesday, Olga Karlova, the lawyer for American Paul Whelan, who was convicted in Russia for alleged espionage, told Reuters that she is unable to confirm the whereabouts of the former Marine.

All this leads human rights activists to suspect that the disappearance of at least six politically motivated prisoners could be a precursor to a larger-scale prisoner exchange planned by the Russian authorities. When asked about this situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment.