.Andrei Pivovarov was just one of the 16 captives devoid of Russia in last week's major prisoner swap between Moscow and the West.The popular opposition protestor, 42, was actually carried out a Warsaw-bound aircraft through Russian security solutions in 2021 after the pro-democracy team Open up Russia, which he moved, was banned as " undesirable." He was actually penalized to four years behind bars in 2022 for his collaborate with the group.The Moscow Moments contacted Pivovarov concerning the swap and his prepare for the future:.MT: Exactly how performed you experience when you were actually being actually taken to the airport? Performed you recognize that it was a substitution?AP: Due to the opportunity we reached the airport terminal, it was presently crystal clear that our experts were being taken to an exchange, yet our experts really did not recognize where.I suspect I totally knew the quite fact of what was happening when I was actually being derived from the colony on Saturday morning. It was the 25th [of July] I realized that something amazing was actually taking place since I was actually grabbed due to the scalp of the swarm as well as he personally aided me lug my things. However there were actually no specifics.You often tend to presume awful in any sort of uncertain condition. I had all sorts of notions. However there was a minute when I was sent-- I had to authorize for a dry out provision. As well as I see a title on the previous line: Alexandra Skochilenko. And also I ensure that if Sasha as well as I are all together, it is actually barely a negative account.I presumed that it would certainly be like in the movies-- a culture where our experts are absolved due to the tsar as well as discharged in front of the RT video cameras. The 2nd possibility was a version of the theorists' aircraft, which unfortunately became even more genuine in life.However every little thing was covered until the very end. When our experts were given Lefortovo [Prison, prior to the substitution], our company remained in seclusion and also can not consult with any person.On Thursday early morning they brought our company a release certification without any purchase number, absolutely nothing. We possessed half a hr to pack, our company carried our factors.There were actually people in hides as well as uniforms along with our company. If any one of us withstood and rejected to become deported, their task was actually to put our team on the aircraft whatsoever. They clearly told our team that later.The very first individual I saw on the bus was [Ilya] Yashin. It was certainly good to observe him. There were familiar and also unfamiliar faces after that, however personally, I was actually really anxious whether Volodya Kara-Murza would be there. He was one of the last to become produced, which was actually a huge relief, since he possesses the longest sentence.Do you know who pushed for your incorporation in the checklist?Exactly how the lists were actually created is actually a secret to me. I haven't managed to talk with all my coworkers yet. From my understanding, there were various teams from which details was acquired and also the last list was considerably bigger than what you have actually found. As well as it was reduced through Russia. When all the wants were actually collected and interacted and sort of agreed upon, less folks were at some point released.You were actually meant to become launched in a month ...This is one of the best tough things for me. If you consider my illegal case, the time period that I had actually left behind [to provide] can easily not be actually compared to the terms of the others [political captives]I can claim that I know coming from a number of resources that the possibility of my release [at the end of my paragraph] was not promised. That is actually why I found yourself on the checklist. We've seen instances where people were actually jailed on their exit of the swarm due to the fact that some new illegal instances were opened. And also however, there were telephone calls that said that in my scenario, the end result may certainly not be actually the greatest.What are your strategies currently? Perform you understand what you will perform in the near future?I am actually right now a person without documents and also no sense of home. I was issued a Russian interior key as well as I possess two papers-- one changes my [overseas key] and the second substitutes my visa. As it was actually detailed to me, these documents allow me to remain in Germany for 15 times-- especially in Germany, certainly not in the EU. It's tough to bring in significant plannings. So in the beginning, certainly, I would love to address the residential parts.And after that-- I have actually been actually carrying out social as well as political benefit 15-20 years. My remain in jail performed not repel me coming from it, but as a matter of fact inspired me a lot more. I possess some concepts, as I had opportunity to presume as well as contemplate [behind bars]As well as the major objective below, possibly, is to attempt to speak even more with those who kept inside [Russia] To make an effort to supply a program to deal with those who may certainly not be our promoters, however that are actually discouraged with what is taking place. If we can provide [individuals in Russia] the chance to show on their own without putting themselves at significant threat, I assume that's what a democratic power must carry out.