The prisoner exchange, which took place on August 1, saw 16 people freed including Yashin, who had been serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence in Russia.

Other high-profile figures released included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

Commenting on the effectiveness of the Russian opposition in exile, Yashin said there were internal divisions and stressed the need for unity.

“Our disunity severely limits our possibilities. I see my role in bringing positions closer together... and developing some mechanisms for collective action,” he said.

“Because the biggest problem I see is the disunity of people who want to do something to stop the war, who are ready to make efforts to remove Putin from power, so that changes in Russia could begin,” he added.

Reflecting on his newfound freedom, Yashin said: “Two months ago, I was behind bars. Now I am a free man... I can call my parents anytime I want. So, well, of course, freedom is better than unfreedom.” However, he pointed to the moral burden of knowing that many political prisoners remain incarcerated.

When asked about the treatment of political prisoners in Russia, Yashin said they “are seen as potential rebels... Almost all political prisoners go through punishment cells.”

He described the various forms of psychological and physical pressure exerted on those who oppose the Kremlin, including limited access to family and restricted communication.

Despite Russian state censorship and repression, Yashin remains hopeful. He noted that opposition channels on platforms like YouTube reach millions of Russians. “We still have a chance to be heard by our compatriots in Russia.”

Yashin urged the West to support anti-war and pro-democracy forces, saying: “Russia should turn into a normal, civilized community.”

Click on the video above to watch the full interview.