via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Brittney Griner will finally be hearing some good news after months of being detained overseas. Russia, for the first time, confirmed that they and the United States are engaged in negotiations for a prisoner swap to secure the WNBA player’s release.
The US proposed a deal, a few weeks ago, to free Griner and fellow American prisoner, Paul Whelan. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the two nations are in negotiations through a channel established by their respective presidents.
Russia Thursday confirmed for the first time that negotiations between Washington and Moscow on a prisoner exchange were underway, after the United States proposed a deal to release WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American prisoner Paul Whelan. https://t.co/Z0Xgl5q375
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 11, 2022
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s announced last week that Russia was “ready to discuss” a swap.
Last month, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, indicated that a “substantial” offer had been made. According to reports, the US proposed releasing Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence. Blinken however, did not confirm this. Following Lavrov’s comments, Blinken stated that they were ready to engage in discussions through a diplomatic route.
The U.S. has reportedly offered to free the "Merchant of Death" in exchange for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. https://t.co/o4L1TxQLkr
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) August 10, 2022
Russian authorities have warned the US against engaging in “megaphone diplomacy.” To put it another way, they warned them against utilizing public pressure to secure Griner’s release. The Kremlin also cautioned them that doing so would jeopardize the entire process.
Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years in prison last week
Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years behind bars on 4th August. The former WNBA champion pleaded guilty to the Russian drug charges after months of being detained. She requested leniency from the court but was nevertheless imprisoned for 9 years. That is nearly the maximum prison sentence for Russian drug accusations, which is 10 years.
Things went south for her when she was detained at an airport in Moscow. Two vape cartridges with cannabis oil containing less than a gram of the substance were seized from her baggage. The substance is banned in Russia.
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The Biden administration has been under tremendous pressure to secure her release since then. According to the State Department, both Griner and Paul Whelan have been unlawfully detained.
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In 2020, Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in jail for espionage-related offenses. Reportedly, President Joe Biden has been in constant communication with the families of both American citizens and has committed to bringing them back to their homeland as soon as possible.
