Russia said it was ready to negotiate a prisoner swap, a day after American basketball star Britney Griner was convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Cambodia on Friday that the Kremlin was “ready to discuss this issue, but within the channels agreed by the president,” state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
“There is a certain agreed channel[por el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin y el presidente estadounidense Joe Biden]that will remain in force no matter what others say publicly,” Lavrov said.
His comments come after Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges for bringing hemp oil into the country in Russia and fined one million rubles ($16,700) in a rice field.
President Joe Biden condemned Griner’s verdict.
“This is unacceptable and I call on Russia to immediately release him to be with his wife, loved ones, friends and teammates. He’ll do everything he can to get Britney and Paul Whelan back home safely as soon as possible.
The Biden administration has reportedly offered to release convicted Russian arms dealers in exchange for the safe return of Griner and Whelan, another American detained in Russia.
Plans to replace Victor Butt, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States, were first reported by CNN for two Americans.
“Based on our history of dialogue with Russia, we have made important proposals that we believe will be successful,” a senior government official told the news agency.
At a news conference Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the United States was pressuring Russia to accept the offer.
“It’s a serious proposal. We encourage them to accept it. They should have accepted it a few weeks ago when we first proposed it,” he said.
Griner has been in Russian custody for more than five months after being arrested in February for carrying cannabis oil in his luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. Griner pleaded guilty, but claimed the oil was prescribed for him as a pain reliever and that he had inadvertently packed it for travel.
Before Thursday’s sentencing, Griner apologized in court, saying: “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I didn’t mean to endanger the people of Russia, I didn’t mean to break the law here.”
“I made an honest mistake. I hope his decision doesn’t end my life here. I know that everyone is still talking about political compromises and politics. I hope it stays out of court,” he added.
Griner’s defense hoped his guilty plea and remorseful plea would get him a short sentence. His team plans to appeal the court’s decision.
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Source: Metro
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