Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov intends to discuss with his US counterpart Anthony Blinken, “if time allows”, Washington’s proposal for a prisoner exchange.
Indications from Russia of the potential release of professional basketball player Brittney Greiner and ex-Marine Paul Whelan, who are both imprisoned in Russia, do not look promising so far.
Russian diplomatic spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to the Russian state news agency TASS, that Mr Lavrov had a full schedule and would discuss the matter with Mr Blinken “if there is time”.
Earlier yesterday, Ms Zakharova said there had been no tangible result yet in the talks between the two sides. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the same statement.
The day before Wednesday, the head of the State Department said that he intends to discuss during a telephone conversation with his counterpart “in the next few days” the possible release of the two American citizens.
If this dialogue takes place, it will be the first bilateral discussion since the war broke out in Ukraine.
Mr Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison for “espionage” in June 2020 by Russian justice. He has remained imprisoned since his arrest in 2018.
Brittney Greiner, a famous professional basketball player, is currently on trial for possession of drugs found at a Moscow airport in February, days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The day before Wednesday, Ms. Greiner, a two-time Olympic champion, admitted before the Khimki District Court that she had cannabis in her luggage, but explained that she did so for medical reasons, as she uses this substance as a pain reliever prescribed by her doctor, which is an established practice in USA, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
“I had no intention of breaking any laws of the Russian Federation,” added the 31-year-old UMMC Ekaterinburg player.
Ms. Greiner remains in custody on a court order that was recently extended until December 20. If convicted of drug possession, she could face up to 10 years in prison.
Mr. Blinken announced days ago that Washington made a “serious” proposal to Moscow several weeks ago and the parties have been discussing it ever since. According to media reports, the US government is willing to release Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the release of Mr. Whelan and Ms. Greiner.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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