A day after American basketball star Brittney Griner was found guilty of drug possession, Russia declared on Friday that it was ready to discuss a prisoner swap with Washington at the presidential level.
Despite escalating hostilities between the two former Cold War adversaries since Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine began, it seemed as though a fresh prisoner swap was just around the corner.
US Will Pursue Prisoner Swap For Brittney Griner
Later on Friday, President Joe Biden expressed optimism on attempts to apprehend Griner. After a bill signing, Biden told reporters outside the White House, "I'm hopeful. We're working hard."
Per CNN, the remarks from each side imply that a negotiating process, which has already shown to be difficult, may quicken in the days to come. According to multiple sources familiar with the discussions, last month, Russian government officials asked that a former colonel from their domestic spy agency-who was convicted of murder in Germany the previous year-be included in the US' proposed trade of notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Paul Whelan.
Whelan, a US citizen, has been detained by Russia since 2018, and a Russian court found him guilty of espionage in 2020 despite his vehement denials. Similar worries about Griner being exploited as a political pawn in Russia's conflict with Ukraine have been expressed in response to her sentence. The couple has been unlawfully held, according to the US State Department.
Star of the Women's National Basketball Association Brittney Griner said on February 17 that she had cannabis oil in her luggage when passing through a Moscow airport. She claimed in court that she was "stress packing" and was in a hurry, but that she was aware of Russia's harsh drug regulations and had no intention of bringing cannabis into the country.
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US President Joe Biden Vows To "Work Tirelessly" For Griner, Whelan
The basketball player from the Phoenix Mercury was traveling to Russia to play club basketball with UMMC Ekaterinburg during the US off-season, which is a regular route taken by American athletes seeking additional money. Griner said that she never failed a drug test and that a US doctor had given her the approval to use medicinal cannabis to treat the pain from her numerous injuries. Russia prohibits the usage of medicinal marijuana, according to CBS News.
Griner's conviction was deemed "unacceptable" by President Biden, who also said that Washington will "work tirelessly" to achieve her release. According to Us Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Washington made a "serious proposition" to swap Griner and Whelan. Victor Bout, a 55-year-old arms dealer known as the 'Merchant of Death,' is the most well-known Russian prisoner in American custody. He is now serving a 25-year term. No public confirmation exists that Washington has proposed trading him.
According to those familiar with the US offer, Griner and Whelan would be exchanged for renowned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. In the US, he is currently serving a 25-year term after being found guilty of conspiring to kill Americans and giving support to a terrorist group.
Since Russia committed soldiers into Ukraine more than five months ago, Blinken and Lavrov's conversation was the highest-level known communication between Washington and Moscow. This highlights the pressure from the general public the White House has been under to release Griner, as per USA Today.
Griner was detained as she headed back to Russia, where she has competed since 2014, to join a team. According to Blinken, her conviction and imprisonment "compound the injustice that has been done to her."
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