Former Governor Bill Richardson is in Moscow for the release of basketball star Griner

Bill Richardson, a former diplomat and former governor of New Mexico, is in Moscow this week for meetings with the Russian leadership.

CNN reports it recalling that Richardson runs a private center that bears his name and that works on behalf of hostage and prisoner families.

The hypothesis therefore is that he is working for the release of two Americans detained in Russia, female basketball star

and former marine

.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said that "anyone who goes to Russia goes there as a private citizen and does not speak on behalf of the US government," and indeed could hamper official negotiations for the release of the two American citizens.