https://sputnikglobe.com/20221210/griner-bout-prisoner-swap-involved-complex-trade-offs-in-us-political-circles---reports-1105335614.html
Griner-Bout Prisoner Swap Involved 'Complex Trade-Offs' in US Political Circles - Reports
Griner-Bout Prisoner Swap Involved 'Complex Trade-Offs' in US Political Circles - Reports
Sputnik International
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US government faced a complex set of internal political "trade-offs" while negotiating the exchange of Russian businessman Viktor Bout... 10.12.2022, Sputnik International
2022-12-10T20:55+0000
2022-12-10T20:55+0000
2022-12-10T20:55+0000
americas
viktor bout
brittney griner
germany
washington dc
russia
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/09/1105273021_0:0:1066:600_1920x0_80_0_0_a9cc410801ebf061aea275a13cf805cd.jpg
On Thursday, the US and Russia exchanged Griner and Bout in a one-for-one prisoner swap. Bout was serving a 25-year sentence in the US on arms dealing charges. Griner was sentenced earlier this year to nine years in prison in Russia for illegally bringing cannabis oil into the country.Many Justice Department officials resisted the idea of exchanging Bout seven years before his planned release from prison, former and current officials told the newspaper.Bout has repeatedly denied accusations of arms smuggling, conspiring to murder US citizens and financially supporting terrorism.According to Washington Post sources, the most painful aspect of the swap was Washington's failure to secure the release of former US Marine Paul Whelan, sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in a Russian prison for spying.Over the past months, State Department officials had advocated a one-for-two prisoner exchange, which was supposed to include both Griner and Whelan. However, Moscow refused to go along with such a deal unless alleged former colonel Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence in Germany for purportedly murdering former Chechen fighter Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was also released.Germany reportedly signaled to the US that Krasikov's release would be "a non-starter," a US official told the newspaper.
americas
germany
russia
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
2022
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rosiya Segodnya“
viktor bout, brittney griner, germany, washington dc, russia
viktor bout, brittney griner, germany, washington dc, russia
Griner-Bout Prisoner Swap Involved 'Complex Trade-Offs' in US Political Circles - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US government faced a complex set of internal political "trade-offs" while negotiating the exchange of Russian businessman Viktor Bout for imprisoned US basketball player Brittney Griner, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing senior US government officials speaking on conditions of anonymity.
On Thursday, the US and Russia exchanged Griner and Bout in a one-for-one prisoner swap. Bout was serving a 25-year sentence in the US on arms dealing charges. Griner was sentenced earlier this year to nine years in prison in Russia for illegally bringing cannabis oil into the country.
Many Justice Department officials resisted the idea of exchanging Bout seven years before his planned release from prison, former and current officials told the newspaper.
"If she were my relative, I would want to do the swap. But trading a notorious international arms dealer for a basketball player is madness," one source said.
Bout has repeatedly denied accusations of arms smuggling, conspiring to murder US citizens and financially supporting terrorism.
According to Washington Post sources, the most painful aspect of the swap was Washington's failure to secure the release of former US Marine Paul Whelan, sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in a Russian prison for spying.
Over the past months, State Department officials had advocated a one-for-two prisoner exchange, which was supposed to include both Griner and Whelan. However, Moscow refused to go along with such a deal unless alleged former colonel Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence in Germany for purportedly murdering former Chechen fighter Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was also released.
Germany reportedly signaled to the US that Krasikov's release would be "a non-starter," a US official told the newspaper.
