Who Is Vadim Krasikov? The Dark Figure at the Center of Putin s Prisoner-Swap Demands – WSJ

BERLIN Vadim Krasikov a Russian hit man and former intelligence officer convicted of murdering an enemy of the Kremlin in a Berlin park told a guard in the German prison where he was serving a life sentence that, the Russian Federation will not leave me to rot in jail.

On Thursday, that boast became reality. Krasikov was released by German authorities and handed over to Russia as part of the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, wrongfully convicted of espionage in July, was also part of the exchange.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally demanded Krasikov s return to Russia. For him, the assassin s release is meant to send a dual message: The Kremlin will hunt down its enemies, even if they flee to the West, and it won t abandon those who remain loyal to his government.

via www.wsj.com