Russia’s Foreign Minister Says Country Is ‘Ready to Discuss’ Prisoner Swap with the U.S. Following Brittney Griner’s Sentencing

On Thursday, WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years after being found guilty of drug smuggling. And now, apparently, Russia is ready to discuss a prisoner swap with the U.S.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Friday that Moscow was “ready to discuss this topic” during a news conference at a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia.

“There is a special channel that has been agreed upon by the presidents, and no matter what anyone says publicly, this channel remains relevant,” Lavrov said in regards to diplomatic talks between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During a press conference in Phnom Penh Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia is “prepared to engage through channels we’ve established … and we’ll be pursuing that,” NBC News reported.

Following Griner’s sentencing on Thursday, Pres. Biden called the sentencing “unacceptable.”

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates. My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible,” the president continued.

Last Wednesday, an official in the Biden administration released a statement saying that the Biden administration had “made a substantial proposal to bring Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan [another American imprisoned in Russia] home weeks ago.”

Evidently, the U.S. has offered a deal to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for 31-year-old Griner and Whelan. CNN reported that Russian officials also requested to have the U.S. include convicted murderer and former Russian spy Vadim Krasikov in the trade package.

A U.S. official also disclosed that the Biden Administration is “still waiting” on Russia to respond.

Griner’s lawyers said they are disappointed by the sentencing but also are planning to appeal it.

 “We are very disappointed and very upset by this verdict,” Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Partners, said.

“Sentences for this article of the criminal court, they usually not so severe. Usually, it’s like five and a half or six years. So nine years, it’s pretty unusual, and it contradicts the existing court practice in Russia.”

The appeal must be done within 10 days of the sentencing.

“We need to use every legal opportunity that we have, and appeal is one of these opportunities,” she says.

​​If Russia and the U.S. agree to the swap, Griner’s legal team would drop the appeal process “immediately,” Boykov added, and the WNBA star would “proceed to depart.”