Anna and Artem Dulcevs, a Russian couple who were part of a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries.
Returned in Prisoner Exchange
The Dulcevs' return was part of a significant prisoner exchange involving NATO countries and Russia, with prisoners exchanged between the U.S., Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus.
They recently shared details with Lenta of their dramatic arrest in Slovenia with the "Rossiyskaya Gazeta."
The couple, who were undercover agents living in Slovenia, returned to Russia with their children on August 1.
The Dulcevs described the day of their arrest as intense and unexpected. According to Artem, Slovenian security forces stormed their apartment while the family was engaged in routine activities. He was working on his computer when the raid occurred.
"They burst in from two sides: one group through the door, another smashed the window and entered the apartment. It was a serious operation. Maybe they hoped to catch us doing something incriminating," Artem recounted.
Children Didn't Know
Anna Dulceva added that their arrest was politically motivated, driven by the country's leadership and influenced by British intelligence, which she claimed is particularly aggressive against illegal espionage.
Despite their arrest, the couple always believed that Russia would not abandon them and would eventually secure their release.
In Slovenia, the Dulcevs lived under the identities of Argentine citizens Maria Rosa Mayer Muñoz and Ludwig Gisch, running an art gallery and working in IT as a cover. Their children attended an international British school, with tuition fees exceeding $10,000 per year per child.
Upon their return to Russia, Anna was overwhelmed with emotion, shedding tears as she stepped off the plane at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. She attributed her tears to the presence of President Vladimir Putin and the honor guard that welcomed them. She expressed deep gratitude to the country and the president for the warm reception.
The children learned of their true Russian identity only after the plane had left Ankara for Moscow. Anna revealed that her 12-year-old daughter cried upon hearing the news, while her 9-year-old son reacted calmly and was happy with the revelation.
