Half of those hitmen die soon thereafter on a cold basement floor. The theater is to show wishy-washy FSB who might attempt defection that, even in the custody of a satellite state, Russia can always reach/liberate them.

Among released 16 prisoners only 6 are Westerners, and even among those 2 or 3 have Russian citizenship as well. So Putin just swaps Russian citizens for other Russian citizens and that’s why it’s such a big deal - it’s the first time I can think of when West plays along with Russian democratic opposition so bold.