In Russian political equation, 16 political prisoners = 8 spies and a killer: Our correspondent looks at the prisoner release, another Jewish prisoner, and how it connects to the war in Ukraine.

This article provides an overview of the recent release of political prisoners in Russia, which was part of a larger swap orchestrated by President Biden. The release included two Jewish prisoners and has raised concerns about press freedom and human rights in Russia. The article also mentions the case of Pavel Kushnir, a musician who died in prison after a hunger strike. The author explores the motivations behind Putin's decision to release the prisoners and discusses the impact of economic sanctions on the Russian economy. The article suggests that negotiations for peace in the war in Ukraine may soon begin. [Extracted from the article]