Call of the foot These statements come the day after the transfer to a penal colony of American basketball player Brittney Griner
American basketball player Brittney Griner could be involved in a prisoner exchange agreement. — EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/AFP
Moscow has its gaze turned in particular; to a Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, detained across the Atlantic. Russia has declared; this Friday hope for an exchange of prisoners with the United States. “I hope that the prospect [of an exchange] is not only current, but strengthens, and that the time will come when we will get a concrete agreement,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergeyï Ryabkov, quoted; by Russian news agencies.
He indicated that negotiations were taking place “in a professional manner”, through “a specially dedicated channel” These statements come the day after the announcement of the transfer to a Russian penal colony of the American basketball player Brittney Griner, arrested at Moscow and convicted of “drug trafficking”.
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The basketball player and the “merchant of death”
Supporters of the 32-year-old basketball player denounce a political affair, accusing the Russian authorities of holding her hostage in the context of tensions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine. Negotiations have been taking place for several months between Russia and the United States over an exchange involving Griner and other Americans detained by Moscow, which on its side hopes to recover Viktor Bout.
Nicknamed the “dealer of death”, Viktor Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States. His journey has been one of the inspirations for the film “Lord of War” in which Nicolas Cage plays a cynical arms dealer.
Secret negotiations
Russia has repeatedly blamed the the United States to make public statements on the negotiations around a prisoner exchange, calling for keep them secret.
“”At this time, we do not have not found common denominator, but there is no doubt that Viktor Bout is among those affected by the discussions, and we hope for a positive outcome,” Sergeï Ryabkov.