A senior Russian diplomat stated that Moscow and Washington are still engaged in sensitive prisoner exchange negotiationsbut accused the US side of leaking details of them to the media.
The United States said on December 5 that Russia rejected a major new offer to free Paul Whelan, a former US Marine serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia for espionage, and American journalist Evan Gershkowitz, who is awaiting trial in Moscow on espionage charges. Both deny being spies and the US has said their detention in Russia has no legal basis.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfax news agency in an interview published today: “The issue of exchanging citizens serving prison sentences in Russia and the United States is extremely delicate. Decisions in this area are often hindered by being actively debated in public.”
He added that the contacts for possible exchanges are carried out by the intelligence services of the two countries.
It is interesting that the participants in these contacts on the American side insist on their complete confidentiality. We also follow this line faithfully, but then there are twists and turns when the White House regularly fixes ‘leaks’ and starts discussing sensitive issues in the public sphere.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow hoped a deal would be reachedbut Washington needs to hear Russia’s terms, which it did not specify.
Source: News Beast
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