Belarus

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Friday that Hungary's potential expulsion from the Schengen area could lead to its departure from the European Union as well. Speaking at a press conference, Tusk advised caution regarding the exclusion of any EU member state. "Exclusion from Schengen would be the start of Hungary's exit from the European Union too.

The historic prisoner exchange agreement between Russia and the West is the result of secret negotiations held under tense conditions between Moscow and the outgoing U.S. President.

The Single-Member Plenary Court of Thessaloniki imposed a total sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for three years, on a 60-year-old man who was arrested at Macedonia airport for carrying two suitcases filled with cigarettes that did not have the required tax bands.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who landed in the US after their release in a major prisoner swap with Russia, according to DPA.

Türkiye on Thursday reaffirmed its dedication to international peace and stability after leading a landmark prisoner exchange operation.

"Türkiye will continue to offer every possible contribution to the establishment of peace and stability in the international arena," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden walking across the tarmac after greeting reporter Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.

The prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, which took place on Thursday in Istanbul, resembled moments from the Cold War, complete with the dramatic setting of an isolated airport area.

From Russia, 16 people were released: four to the U.S. and 12 to Germany, one of whom was Belarusian.

Russia is set to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan in a major prisoner swap with the US, as reported by anonymous sources to Bloomberg. This exchange is expected to be the largest since the Cold War.

Hungary's decision to relax visa restrictions for Russian visitors is raising concerns about espionage, prompting calls for urgent countermeasures from EU leaders, according to the Financial Times. The European People's Party (EPP), the bloc's largest political group, has expressed alarm over Budapest's move, warning that it poses significant national security risks.

The Hungarian government has introduced a National Card starting in July that permits Russian and Belarusian "guest workers" to enter Hungary without undergoing the usual security screenings, reports Forbes Hungary. This policy, which follows the closure of the contentious Russian-controlled International Investment Bank (IIB), has sparked substantial national security concerns.