After Griner's arrest, Russia considers prisoner exchange - EZFICE

After Griner's arrest, Russia considers prisoner exchange

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Russia said on Friday it was ready to discuss a prisoner exchange with the United States privately, a day after a Russian court ruled to jail American basketball star Brittney Griner for nine years for a crime. of drug possession.

The case against Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star, has plunged her into geopolitical turmoil after Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden previously agreed on a diplomatic channel that should be used to discuss possible prisoner exchanges.

“We are ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that was agreed upon by Presidents Putin and Biden,” Lavrov said during a visit to Cambodia. “If Americans decide to once again resort to public diplomacy…that’s their problem.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington is prepared to engage with Moscow through established diplomatic channels. He said Griner's conviction highlighted her unjust detention by Russia and further exacerbated the injustice against her.

The Kremlin was silent on the prospect of an exchange, saying it would never happen if the media discussed prisoner swaps.

“The Americans made this mistake and suddenly decided to use megaphone diplomacy to solve these problems,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “That’s not how they resolved it.”

Peskov declined to comment on the court's ruling against Griner. When asked if she could be pardoned, he said clemency procedures were written into Russian law.

Griner's sentence — which Biden called “unacceptable” — could pave the way for a prisoner swap, including the 31-year-old athlete and a Russian arms dealer serving 25 years in the United States.

The United States made what Blinken called a “substantial offer” to secure the release of Americans detained in Russia, including Greener and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Griner was arrested on February 17 at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport with hash oil cartridges in her luggage.

The United States argues that she was unfairly detained by Moscow and used as a political bargaining chip. Russian officials rejected the U.S. argument, saying Griner violated Russian law and should be prosecuted accordingly.

Marijuana is illegal in Russia for medical and recreational purposes.