Saudi Foreign Minister Contacts Counterparts in Countries of Released Prisoners from Russia

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan made phone calls to the foreign ministers of the countries whose citizens were released by Russia and sent to Riyadh after fighting alongside the Ukrainian army. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the foreign minister contacted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Wednesday. He emphasized the commitment and concern of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding "the safety of the prisoners that Saudi Arabia received today from the Russian side," and that Saudi authorities are working to ensure their departure to their home countries as soon as possible. A statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry indicated that "the mediation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led to the release of 10 prisoners from Morocco, the United States, Britain, Sweden, and Croatia," noting that the relevant authorities in the Kingdom have received them and facilitated their transfer from Russia to the Kingdom, as well as the arrangements for their return to their countries.