The US government will discuss a prisoner swap with Russia involving basketball star Brittney Griner, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.
“(Russian) Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this morning … they are willing to participate in the prisoner exchange. We will continue to do so,” Blinken said in a meeting with the foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries in Cambodia. said.
The arrest and sentencing for Griner highlighted Moscow’s “use of unlawful detention to further its agenda,” criticizing “the use of individuals as political pawns,” added Blinken.
At a press conference in Cambodia, Lavrov declared that Russia is willing to discuss the issue, but only within the framework of the (communication) channel established by Presidents (Vladimir) Putin and (Joe) Biden.
“There is a private channel accepted by the Presidents and it continues to work despite some public statements,” Lavrov said. said.
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced the American basketball player to nine years in prison for drug trafficking.
The two-time Olympic champion, who was detained in Moscow in February with a vape containing cannabis-based oil shortly before the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has become another element of the geopolitical crisis between Russia and the United States.
source: Noticias
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