Last August 1, the Russian authorities exchanged 16 political prisoners for eight Russian intelligence officers and contract killers held in Western prisons. 

Moreover, some of the Russian prisoners of conscience, like Ilya Yashin, were in fact forcibly expelled from the country, in violation of their desire to remain in their homeland, even if in prison. With this tactic, which violates Article 27 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin’s regime is getting rid of the threat it sees in dissidents.

Even though this was the core of the informal ultimatum presented to him by the Russian authorities, Boris Kagarlitsky has repeatedly refused to be swapped if this entails being sent into exile. 

He has written about the issue in a letter from prison to supporters: “Regarding swaps, my position is known. I am categorically against them. Or rather: of course, I am glad that these people [in the August 1 swap] have found themselves free. But the whole business seems monstrous to me… 

"Don’t think that I like the penal colony. I just need to be in Russia when it all ends (or, more accurately, begins).”