The Biden administration has offered to swap Brittney Griner, the pro basketball player arrested in Russia, for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout and return him to Russia for the release of the imprisoned star athlete.
A credible non-government source informed Forbes that negotiations have already begun.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA all-star who also competes professionally in Russia, was detained in Moscow on Feb. 17 when customs officers alleged they detected vape cartridges with hash oil in her baggage.
Viktor Bout dubbed the "Merchant of Death," has been serving a 25-year sentence in US prison since being convicted in 2011 in federal court in New York of plotting to sell millions of dollars in firearms to the Colombian terrorist organization FARC.
The prospect of a Griner-Bout swap was first disclosed by Tass, Russia's state-owned news agency, on May 13. It was verified by the source for Forbes.
The Biden administration is considering a prisoner swap that would free Brittney Griner from detention in Russia in exchange for notorious illegal arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to sources and Russian media. https://t.co/plJDCSoOaX
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 19, 2022
Tass stated in their report, citing a source in the Public Monitoring Commission, that talks are currently ongoing on "exchanging Bout for Griner." A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to comment on the issue. The special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Roger Carstens, who heads the interagency team working on Griner's return, had no comment too.
Wrongfully Detained
Brittney Griner's pre-trial custody has been extended for another month, according to a Fox 10 report. US President Joe Biden has been clear about bringing American citizens jailed abroad home, according to a US State Department spokesperson who talked to Fox News Digital.
Authorities will need to have private negotiations in order to have a chance of sending those folks home. An official from the US State Department told the news agency earlier this month that Russia "wrongfully detained" the American basketball star.
"The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner," the spokesperson stated and emphasized that the "welfare and safety" of US citizens abroad are included in the top priorities of the US government.
Griner Being Used as Bargaining Chip
Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, has been fighting for her client's safe return to the United States, according to Marca, but the situation is becoming incredibly hard for her. Some believe the WNBA star's case is being exploited for political benefit. There were also concerns that she would be used as a bargaining chip by Moscow.
The activist agent tweeted: "Regarding today's report re consular access: International law requires that Russia provide consular access to Brittney Griner and that access has now been denied three times. This proves Brittney is being used as a political bargaining chip." There is still no word on whether President Joe Biden will meet with Cherelle Griner or her agent to discuss Griner's situation.
"...these women are working overtime to mount a coordinated effort, to move in one seamless formation, and to convince everyone...that demanding the safe return of Griner is not a charity case, but a mandatory fight for a human life..."https://t.co/pxVAsZnqHd
— Lindsay Kagawa Colas (she/her) (@kagawacolas) May 17, 2022
While the meeting is being arranged Colas posted on Twitter: "No athlete, representing any country should have to travel in fear of being taken and used as a negotiating tool. We must protect the sanctity of sport and the entire global sports community should stand together and demand Brittney Griner's release."
