German justice minister warns against travel to Russia

Germany's Justice Minister Marco Buschmann has strongly warned against travelling to Russia following a major prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and several Western states last week.

"Nobody has been safe in Russia for a long time," Buschmann told news magazine Stern.

"And I strongly advise against travelling to a country where nobody is safe unless absolutely necessary," Buschmann said.

"I cannot alleviate anyone's concern that Putin will create more political prisoners."

The prisoner exchange on Thursday saw Moscow release 16 people - including US journalist Evan Gershkovich and former marine Paul Whelan.

In return, Moscow received a number of convicted criminals, including the secret service agent and assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was in prison in Germany for murder.

Buschmann said he had doubts about whether the Russian side would keep to the agreement. He said that not even when the plane with the freed prisoners had landed in Cologne/Bonn, they could be sure.

Buschmann said that the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB frequently uses poison "to harm people's lives or health directly or indirectly" in a malicious manner.

Following the plane's landing in Germany, the released prisoners underwent a medical examination. "That was my biggest concern - that Russia had poisoned them before the flight. But according to what we know so far, thank God that is not the case."