The National Intelligence Organization’s Historical Swap Operation
The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has carried out one of the most comprehensive swap operations in recent times. This operation involved the exchange of 26 people in prisons in the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus. As part of the operation, 10 people, including two children, were transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany and 3 to the US.
Historical Operation
Among those exchanged in this historic operation was an anti-war Russian artist who was released by Russia Sasha SkacilenkoSkachilenko stated that the exchange process was very fast for them. He said that they were not given any information until the last moment and that they were afraid that they would be executed when they were taken out of prison and put on a bus.
‘MIT Officers Were Very Cool’
Skacilenko said that the MIT officers who greeted them when the plane carrying the details landed in Ankara were very “cool.” Skacilenko emphasized that the Turkish intelligence personnel displayed a serious stance, “They were like characters in Turkish TV series”He stated that the MIT personnel were different from the Russian intelligence personnel with their headsets and determined stance, and “It was all so stylish, it was a really impressive moment.”he said.
Operation Progressed Under MIT Coordination
With the suggestion of the parties who trusted Turkey’s mediation experience and the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, MIT took on the leading role in this clearing operation. MIT’s senior officials met with the parties frequently to carry out this historical operation.
During the process, MIT Director İbrahim Kalın communicated with his counterparts both face to face and by phone on many occasions. After the “mutual confirmation” procedures of the parties were completed under the supervision of MIT and health checks were carried out, 10 people were directed to the Russian plane to return to Moscow, 3 people to the US plane to return to Washington, and 13 people to the German plane.
With the wheels of three planes leaving the runway, MIT’s historic clearing operation came to a successful conclusion.
