Jailed Russian anti-war sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky vows to sue any foreign government that includes him in prisoner swap

Meduza.io

Boris Kagarlitsky, a Russian sociologist serving a five-year prison sentence on charges of “justifying terrorism” for an online post about the 2022 Crimean Bridge explosion, has asked not to be included in any future prison exchanges between Moscow and the West.

The online magazine that Kagarlitsky runs, Rabkor, posted his message on Telegram:

Recently, there’s been increased talk of another exchange. It’s still unclear who the Russian political prisoners will be exchange for, but there’s active debate about who should be included on the exchange lists and who should not. I’ve stated several times before, and I will repeat again, that I do not wish to participate in such exchanges and ask not to be included on these lists. I see no sense or benefit for myself in emigration. If I wanted to leave the country, I would have done so myself. But I’m not planning to leave my homeland, and if staying here means I have to me in prison, then I’ll remain in prison.

Kagarlitsy also promised to take legal action against any foreign government that agrees to conduct a prisoner exchange that includes him against his will, saying he would consider this an “abduction.”

On November 13, the Telegram channel Mash reported that Russia and the U.S. could conduct a prisoner exchange in February 2025.

Boris Kagarlitsky

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