Russia freed the WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in High level drama prisoner exchange, with The United States launched the infamous Russian weapons dealer US officials said Victor Bout. Barter, one at a time of Tensions escalate over Ukraine, achieved the summit goal for President Joe Biden but he’s a heavy load price – And the left behind Imprisoned American for Almost four years in Russia.
deal, and second such an exchange in eight months with Russia bought the release of The most prominent Americans detained abroad. Greiner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was imprisoned for months on Drug charges brought unprecedented attention to population of illegal detainees.
Biden’s mandate to release a Russian criminal he once called “the dealer” of Death confirmed, “the escalating pressure exerted by his administration faced to get Griner homeEspecially after the last decision of to her criminal Case and later transfer to a penal colony.
US officials confirmed the exchange with direct knowledge of negotiations who They were not allowed to discuss the deal publicly in front of the White House announcement And he spoke on condition of Anonymity.
Russian and US officials expressed cautious optimism in The last weeks after months of tense negotiations, with Biden says in November that he hoped Russia would get involved in Deal now that the midterms are complete. Big Russian official He said last The week the deal was possible Before year’send.
However, the fact That was the deal one-for-one The trade-off was surprising considering that US officials did so for Months expressed their intention to bring home Both Greiner and Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, have been jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage accuse him of that family And the United States government He said baseless.
By releasing Bout, the United States released A.J former Lieutenant Colonel of the Soviet Army once described by the Ministry of Justice one of The world’s most prolific arms dealers. Bot, whose exploits inspired Hollywood moviewas serving 25-year sentence or sentence on Accusations that he conspired to sell dozens of millions of dollar in Weapons that US officials said would be used against The Americans.
The Biden administration was finally willing to trade Booth if it meant Greener’s freedom. The detention of one of greatest players in WNBA history Contribute to Vortex of Unprecedented public Attention for The case of an individual detainee – not to mention the extreme pressure on White House.
Grenier arrest in February made She is the most famous American imprisoned abroad. Her status as an openly gay black woman, is closed up in A country where the authorities were hostile to the LBGTQ communityand inculcate race, gender, and social Dynamics in her legal saga And the made All development Command of international Importance.
Not only did her case bring unprecedented publicity to dozens of Americans have been unjustly detained by foreign governments, but that also It emerged as a major inflection point in Simultaneous US-Russian diplomacy of The deteriorating relations caused by the Moscow war against Ukraine.
The exchange was made out Although relations between the powers deteriorated. But prison of The Americans produced a rare diplomatic overture, which resulted highest- Known level of communication between Washington and Moscow – tel call between the secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – in more from five months.
Exceptionally move during otherwise secret negotiations, Blinken disclosed publicly in July in the United States made A “substantial proposal” for Russia for Greiner and Whelan. Although he did not specify the terms and conditions people a favour with She said that the United States offered a bot.
like this public The initiative drew a painful reprimand from the Russians, who They said they prefer resolve such cases in privateand carry risk of Weaken the US government’s negotiating hand for This and future By making management look so desperate. But the announcement I was also intended to communicate with public That Biden was doing what he could ensure the pressure on Russians.
Besides efforts of US officials, release also months followed of Back channel negotiations involving Bill Richardson, W former US Ambassador to the United Nations and frequent envoy in hostages, and his senior deputy, Mickey Bergman. The men It was made Multiple trips abroad in The last year To discuss barter scenarios with Russian contacts.
Greiner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in February when customs officials said they found vape refills with hemp oil in her luggage. She pleaded guilty in July, though still faced Trial due to admission of guilt in Russian judiciary system It does not automatically terminate the state.
I confessed in She said she had the packages, but she said she didn’t criminal the intent of their existence in Her baggage was due to fast packing.
before judging him on 4 and received a sentence her lawyers said she was out of Line for For the offense, an emotional Greiner apologized.for The mistake that I am made and the embarrassment it brought on Hmm.” She added: “hopefull in Your judgment does not end my life.”
Her supporters have been largely silent for Weeks later arrestbut this approach changed in May once the State Department classified her as being held illegally. Separate trade veteran Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a convicted Russian pilot in United State in A cocaine-smuggling plot, spurred the hope that such additional exchanges could be in Business.
Whelan is taken into custody in Russia since December 2018. United States government also Classify him as unjustly detained. He is sentenced to prison in 2020 to 16 years old in prison.
Whelan is not included in reeds prisoner swap, mounting pressure on Biden administration ensure that any deal brought home Griner also included it.
Russia freed the WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in High level drama prisoner exchange, with The United States launched the infamous Russian weapons dealer US officials said Victor Bout. Barter, one at a time of Tensions escalate over Ukraine, achieved the summit goal for President Joe Biden but he’s a heavy load price – And the left behind Imprisoned American for Almost four years in Russia.
deal, and second such an exchange in eight months with Russia bought the release of The most prominent Americans detained abroad. Greiner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was imprisoned for months on Drug charges brought unprecedented attention to population of illegal detainees.
Biden’s mandate to release a Russian criminal he once called “the dealer” of Death confirmed, “the escalating pressure exerted by his administration faced to get Griner homeEspecially after the last decision of to her criminal Case and later transfer to a penal colony.
US officials confirmed the exchange with direct knowledge of negotiations who They were not allowed to discuss the deal publicly in front of the White House announcement And he spoke on condition of Anonymity.
Russian and US officials expressed cautious optimism in The last weeks after months of tense negotiations, with Biden says in November that he hoped Russia would get involved in Deal now that the midterms are complete. Big Russian official He said last The week the deal was possible Before year’send.
However, the fact That was the deal one-for-one The trade-off was surprising considering that US officials did so for Months expressed their intention to bring home Both Greiner and Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, have been jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage accuse him of that family And the United States government He said baseless.
By releasing Bout, the United States released A.J former Lieutenant Colonel of the Soviet Army once described by the Ministry of Justice one of The world’s most prolific arms dealers. Bot, whose exploits inspired Hollywood moviewas serving 25-year sentence or sentence on Accusations that he conspired to sell dozens of millions of dollar in Weapons that US officials said would be used against The Americans.
The Biden administration was finally willing to trade Booth if it meant Greener’s freedom. The detention of one of greatest players in WNBA history Contribute to Vortex of Unprecedented public Attention for The case of an individual detainee – not to mention the extreme pressure on White House.
Grenier arrest in February made She is the most famous American imprisoned abroad. Her status as an openly gay black woman, is closed up in A country where the authorities were hostile to the LBGTQ communityand inculcate race, gender, and social Dynamics in her legal saga And the made All development Command of international Importance.
Not only did her case bring unprecedented publicity to dozens of Americans have been unjustly detained by foreign governments, but that also It emerged as a major inflection point in Simultaneous US-Russian diplomacy of The deteriorating relations caused by the Moscow war against Ukraine.
The exchange was made out Although relations between the powers deteriorated. But prison of The Americans produced a rare diplomatic overture, which resulted highest- Known level of communication between Washington and Moscow – tel call between the secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov – in more from five months.
Exceptionally move during otherwise secret negotiations, Blinken disclosed publicly in July in the United States made A “substantial proposal” for Russia for Greiner and Whelan. Although he did not specify the terms and conditions people a favour with She said that the United States offered a bot.
like this public The initiative drew a painful reprimand from the Russians, who They said they prefer resolve such cases in privateand carry risk of Weaken the US government’s negotiating hand for This and future By making management look so desperate. But the announcement I was also intended to communicate with public That Biden was doing what he could ensure the pressure on Russians.
Besides efforts of US officials, release also months followed of Back channel negotiations involving Bill Richardson, W former US Ambassador to the United Nations and frequent envoy in hostages, and his senior deputy, Mickey Bergman. The men It was made Multiple trips abroad in The last year To discuss barter scenarios with Russian contacts.
Greiner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in February when customs officials said they found vape refills with hemp oil in her luggage. She pleaded guilty in July, though still faced Trial due to admission of guilt in Russian judiciary system It does not automatically terminate the state.
I confessed in She said she had the packages, but she said she didn’t criminal the intent of their existence in Her baggage was due to fast packing.
before judging him on 4 and received a sentence her lawyers said she was out of Line for For the offense, an emotional Greiner apologized.for The mistake that I am made and the embarrassment it brought on Hmm.” She added: “hopefull in Your judgment does not end my life.”
Her supporters have been largely silent for Weeks later arrestbut this approach changed in May once the State Department classified her as being held illegally. Separate trade veteran Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a convicted Russian pilot in United State in A cocaine-smuggling plot, spurred the hope that such additional exchanges could be in Business.
Whelan is taken into custody in Russia since December 2018. United States government also Classify him as unjustly detained. He is sentenced to prison in 2020 to 16 years old in prison.
Whelan is not included in reeds prisoner swap, mounting pressure on Biden administration ensure that any deal brought home Griner also included it.