The Kremlin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reacted with restraint to the information that appeared the day before about a possible exchange of Russian businessman Viktor Bout for American citizens - two-time Olympic basketball champion Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan convicted of espionage.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov made it clear that it is too early to talk about reaching any specific agreements with Washington.

“The first thing we know is that such reports and some statements actually appeared.

Secondly, when discussing such topics, such information stuffing is usually not done.

Usually it becomes known about the already implemented agreements.

And thirdly, there are no agreements in this area yet, ”Peskov said.

In turn, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled that the issue of the mutual exchange of Russian and American citizens in places of detention on the territory of the two countries was once discussed by the presidents of the two countries.

“They gave instructions to the relevant authorized structures to carry out negotiations.

They are maintained by the competent departments.

A concrete result has not yet been achieved.

At the same time, we proceed from the fact that during the negotiation process the interests of both parties should be taken into account, ”Zakharova explained.

On the evening of July 27, several publications, citing a high-ranking source in the US government, reported that President Joe Biden had agreed to a plan to exchange Booth for Greiner and Whelan.

And Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that a corresponding proposal had allegedly already been sent to the Russian side.

He also announced his intention to hold talks with his colleague Sergei Lavrov in the coming days.

Viktor Bout was arrested in Bangkok back in 2008 on charges of illegal arms trafficking and aiding a radical Colombian group.

He was later extradited to the United States, where in 2012 he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Paul Whelan was sentenced to 16 years for espionage in 2020, and Brittney Griner is accused of importing hash oil into the country.

However, the basketball player has not yet been sentenced, and this is one of the necessary conditions for the implementation of the exchange procedure.

Having received the indictment, she will have to apply to the President of the Russian Federation with a request for pardon.

Return to the homeland is possible only if the application is granted.

Consideration of the Greiner case essentially began on July 1, and at one of the meetings the athlete fully admitted her guilt.

However, a detailed interrogation of the two-time Olympic champion took place only on July 27.

Before it began, the defense turned to the court with an unusual request: to release Brittney from a special cage, because due to her height (206 cm), she cannot fully straighten up, and a half-bent position provokes pain in her neck.

Judge Anna Sotnikova explained that this would have violated the order of the proceedings, but allowed the basketball player to testify while sitting.

During interrogation, Greiner said that she knew about the status of hash oil in Russia and had no intention of bringing it into the country.

According to Brittney, she does not understand how the cartridge with the illegal substance ended up in her bag.

The athlete said that she had a 10-day vacation, after which she had to return to Yekaterinburg.

She knew that the US authorities did not advise American citizens to fly to Russia, but “she couldn’t let the team down”, because the UMMC had to play the playoffs of the national championship.

“I had no intention of violating any law of the Russian Federation.

I think I was in a hurry and still not completely recovered, so I dumped everything in a bag.

I did not plan to bring anything prohibited, but I take responsibility for what was found in my luggage, ”Greiner emphasized.

She attributed her inattention to fatigue and post-COVID syndrome.

At the same time, the athlete admitted that in the United States she used marijuana for medical purposes instead of an analgesic.

“During my career, there were injuries of the spine, knee and ankle fracture, I moved in a wheelchair for four months.

I asked for marijuana because there are a lot of side effects from painkillers, ”Greiner explained.

She added that she used the drug out of competition, as prescribed by the WADA code, since the substance is on the banned list.

“I used marijuana to relieve pain when my knee became inflamed and only during breaks from games and when there was no competition,” the American said.

She also stated that she was not going to use drugs in Yekaterinburg, as she values ​​\u200b\u200bher career.

“This is my whole life.

I dedicated my time, my body to it.

I am away from my family for six months a year.

Parents are no longer young, I appreciate the time spent with them.

But I play even with injuries, and nothing can make me let the team down, ”the basketball player explained.

The next hearing will take place in the Khimki court on August 2.

On that day, the specialist who analyzed the substances seized from Greiner will be questioned.

Recall that the two-time Olympic champion was detained in mid-February at Sheremetyevo Airport.

During the passage of customs control, she attracted the attention of a service dog.

In the luggage of an American, hash oil was found banned in Russia.

Since then, she has been in custody.