The discussion on the exchange of American basketball player Brittney Griner, convicted in Russia of drug smuggling, is being conducted within the framework of the channels of interaction between the United States and the Russian Federation. This was stated by the director of the North America Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Darchiev. His words led on Saturday, August 13, the TASS agency.

“Discussion of a very sensitive issue of the exchange of imprisoned citizens of Russia and the United States is taking place within the channels determined by our presidents,” noted Darchiev. “The Russian side has been seeking the release of Viktor Bout for a long time,” he said.

The need for a pragmatic approach

The diplomat confirmed that the names of Bout, Greiner and Paul Whelan, director of security at BorgWarner, convicted of espionage, appear in the dialogue between Moscow and Washington. “The details should be left to the professionals, based on the principle of ‘do no harm,'” a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

According to Darchiev, it was due to a pragmatic approach that a “quick and successful exchange” of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko for American student Trevor Reed was carried out in April 2022.

Moscow has for years demanded the extradition of former Soviet officer Viktor Bout, an arms dealer who was found guilty in 2012 of conspiring to kill Americans and US officials, trying to buy and sell missiles, and supporting terrorism through collaboration with the Forces. Revolutionary Armies. of the Colombia group and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Greiner’s phrase

On August 4, the Moscow Region Khimki City Court sentenced Brittney Greiner to nine years in a penal colony and a fine of one million rubles, finding her guilty of drug smuggling and possession. The basketball player’s lawyers said they would appeal.

Greiner was detained in February 2022 in Sheremetyevo. The investigation claims that during the search, vape cartridges with hash oil were found in his luggage. The athlete admitted this, but stated that she would not intentionally bring the banned substance to Russia. She claims that she packed things in a state of stress and didn’t remember putting the cartridges in her bag. Greiner also highlighted that he uses drugs exclusively for personal use.

The United States found Moscow’s response unacceptable.

The US government has offered the Russian Federation to exchange Greiner and another American detained in Russia – ex-Marine Paul Whelan convicted of espionage – for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who is serving time in the United States for arms trafficking. In early August, Washington announced an unacceptable response from Moscow, which, according to CNN, wanted to include Vadim Krasikov, the assassin of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, who is also serving time in Germany, in the exchange deal.