Russian President Vladimir Putin personally met the citizens who returned as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the West at the plane's steps. Along with him, the arrivals were met by FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin.

One of those who returned is Vadim Sokolov (Krasikov), who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany in 2021 for the murder of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili.

The family of the murdered man called the return of the killer to Russia "devastating news".

"On the one hand, we are glad that someone's life was saved. At the same time, we are very disappointed that there seems to be no law in the world, even in those countries where the law is the highest authority," reads a statement published by Deutsche Welle (DW), citing the family's lawyer.

Former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili came to Germany in 2016 and was granted asylum. He was murdered on August 23, 2019, in Berlin's Small Tiergarten park. According to investigators, Krasikov (aka Sokolov) rode up to the victim on a bicycle and fired two shots. He was arrested and brought to justice the same day. The media reported that the killer was an FSB officer and was later sentenced to life imprisonment.