The fate of Brittney Griner in the hands of Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin?

The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, indicated on Friday August 5 that Moscow was ready to discuss with Washington a prisoner exchange involving basketball player Brittney Griner, through a communication channel at the presidential level.

"We are ready to discuss this subject, but only within the framework of the channel (of communication) which was agreed by the presidents (Vladimir) Putin and (Joe) Biden", indicated Sergey Lavrov, during a conference of press from Cambodia.

"There is a special channel, which is agreed by the presidents, and despite some public statements, this channel retains all its relevance," he continued.

"If the Americans still decide to engage in public diplomacy and make resounding statements (...), that's their business, and even their problem," added Sergei Lavrov, assuring that Washington "cannot "to work "calmly and professionally" on many subjects.

A "substantial offer" from Washington

A Russian court on Thursday sentenced American women's basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug trafficking, a heavy sentence that opens the way for a possible prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington.

Last week, the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken and his counterpart Sergei Lavrov had their first discussions since the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

Antony Blinken says he pressed his counterpart to accept Washington's "substantial offer" to Moscow to secure the release of Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year prison sentence for espionage.

According to several American media, it would be a question of exchanging a famous Russian arms trafficker detained in the United States, Viktor Bout, against Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

With AFP

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