#PRISONER SWAP

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners on Saturday, 206 in all, in their second such swap in two days, following negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates, officials said.

Talks leading to the largest prisoner exchange between the West and Russia since the Cold War began over two years ago and originally involved the freeing of Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny, according to media reports.

Thursday saw the release of at least 24 prisoners by Russia and Western countries in the biggest prisoner exchange since the Cold War with details now emerging on the identities of some of those freed.

The fate of several jailed Russian dissidents is currently unknown following their abrupt disappearance from view in recent days; which could indicate that a long-attempted prisoner swap with the West may be close.

Journalists believe Vladimir Putin discussed exchanging Alexei Navalny with Russians arrested in the West hours before the announcement of the opposition activist’s death, the independent Russian news site Agentstvo wrote on Friday, citing conversations with people familiar with the matter.