Ilya Yashin Desires Return to Russia Despite Threats

Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin, recently released in a prisoner swap, expressed his wish to return to Russia, but was warned by the FSB that no more swaps would occur if he did. He was cautioned that his fate could resemble that of Alexei Navalny, who recently died in prison.

Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin, released from prison as part of a major prisoner swap on Thursday, expressed his desire to return to Russia, though it was made clear to him that no further prisoner swaps would be permitted if he did.

During a press conference in Bonn, Yashin revealed that an officer from Russia's FSB security service warned him that returning to Russia would result in a fate similar to that of Alexei Navalny.

In February, Russian authorities reported that Alexei Navalny, formerly the most formidable domestic opponent of President Vladimir Putin, fell unconscious and died at the 'Polar Wolf' Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a three-decade sentence.

(With inputs from agencies.)