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US proposes prisoner swap with Russia for detained female basketball player
The US made what it referred to as a “substantial proposal” on Wednesday to Russia, which will see Griner who is facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs, and Whelan, a former US Marine, who has been imprisoned in Russia for alleged espionage since 2018, returned to the US while Bout, will head back to Moscow.
Russia has, for years, sought the release of Bout who is often referred to as the “Merchant of Death” after he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 following his conviction in a scheme to illegally sell weapons worth millions of dollars to terrorists.
Griner was arrested on arrival in Russia in February with vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She was to later testify in court that a language interpreter provided to her translated only a fraction of what was being said as authorities arrested her.
Griner said she was instructed by officials to sign documents at the Moscow airport without them providing an explanation for what she was acknowledging.
Blinken’s comments marked the first time the U.S. government publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure Griner’s release. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and player for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury was arrested at a Moscow airport in mid-February when inspectors found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken said he expects to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the proposed prisoner deal and other matters. It would be their first phone call since before Russia sent its troops into Ukraine.
Russia has for years expressed interest in the release of Bout, a Russian arms dealer once labeled the “Merchant of Death.” He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on charges that he schemed to illegally sell millions of dollars in weapons.
Though US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, would not openly discuss the proposal, it is understood the two countries have been in discussion since June on the modalities on the deal, while Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova admitted on Thursday that negotiations about a prisoner swap are ongoing and have not yet yielded an agreement.
