The case against Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), plunged her into a geopolitical maelstrom after Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden had previously agreed on a diplomatic channel to be used to discuss possible prisoner exchanges. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “We are ready to discuss this issue, but within the channel agreed by Presidents Putin and Biden,” Lavrov said during a visit to Cambodia. “If the Americans decide to once again resort to public diplomacy … that’s their business and I would even say it’s their problem.” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington was ready to work with Moscow through established diplomatic channels. He said Griner’s conviction highlighted her unfair detention by Russia and further compounded the injustice done to her. The Kremlin has remained tight-lipped on the prospect of a swap, saying that if prisoner swaps were discussed in the media, they would never happen. “The Americans have already made this mistake, they suddenly decided to use bullhorn diplomacy to resolve these issues,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “They don’t get solved like that.” Peskov declined to comment on the court’s ruling on Griner. When asked if she could be pardoned, she said the clemency process was codified in Russian law. Griner’s sentence – which Biden called “unacceptable” – could pave the way for a prisoner swap involving the 31-year-old athlete and a prolific Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in the United States. The United States has already made what Blinken called a “substantial offer” to secure the release of Americans held in Russia, including Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
“A SERIOUS PROPOSAL”
White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby said after Griner’s sentencing that the United States made Russia a serious offer. “We urge them to accept it,” he said. “They should have accepted it weeks ago when we first did it.” read more Kirby did not elaborate on the US proposal. Washington has offered to swap Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Whelan, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. read more Russia has sought to add convicted murderer Vadim Krasikov, jailed in Germany, to the proposed swap, a source familiar with the process also told Reuters. Russia and the United States arranged a prisoner swap in April, swapping former Marine Trevor Reed for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence in the United States. read more Griner was arrested on February 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport with vaping cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. The United States argued that it was wrongly withheld and used as a political bargaining chip by Moscow. Russian officials rejected the US claim, saying Griner had violated Russian law and should be judged accordingly. Griner, who was prescribed medical cannabis in the United States to relieve pain from chronic injuries, said she made an honest mistake by inadvertently packing the vape cartridges as she rushed to make her flight. She pleaded guilty to the changes against her but insisted she did not intend to break Russian law. Cannabis is illegal in Russia for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report from Reuters. edited by Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Heinrich and Ros Russell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
