Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had a telephone conversation initiated by the US side and discussed, among other things, the exchange of prisoners, including an American basketball player. Britney Griner .
Greiner was arrested on suspicion of attempting to illegally import hash oil through Sheremetyevo airport in February, and a criminal case was opened for drug trafficking. Greiner faces a prison term of 5 to 10 years. The trial is ongoing, the next meeting is scheduled for August 2. Greiner, 31, has been playing at UMMC Yekaterinburg since 2015, she won two Olympics with the USA team (2016, 2020).
Earlier, US media reported, citing a source in US President Joe Biden’s administration, that he supported plans to swap Russian Viktor Bout for US citizens Griner and Paul Whelan.
– An exchange of views took place on the problems of bilateral relations which are in great need of normalization. Regarding the possible exchange of imprisoned citizens of Russia and the United States, the Russian side urged to return to a professional dialogue, without stuffing speculative information, on the mode of “silent diplomacy”, according to the press release. on the official website Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Bout was arrested in 2008 and charged with conspiring to kill US citizens and providing material support for terrorism. In 2012, he was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Booth denies all the allegations. Whelan is sentenced in Russia to 16 years in prison for espionage.
Source : MatchTV
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