Lavrov says Russia is willing to swap prisoners after Griner's conviction

Brittney Griner

Despite the fact that Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for transporting less than a gramme of cannabis oil through a Moscow airport, the United States and Russia have indicated that they are willing to start prisoner swap discussions.

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov

Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Cambodia that the Kremlin is "ready to discuss this matter, but within the scope of the channel that has been agreed by the presidents," official news agency RIA Novosti reported. "There is a specific channel that has been agreed upon by [Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden], and no matter what anyone says publicly, this channel will remain in effect," Lavrov allegedly said Friday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting.

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Secretary of State, Antony Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States announced at the same meeting a short time later that the United States will "pursue" negotiations with Russia. "As you are aware, we made a significant proposition to Russia, and we expect them to work with us on it. They're willing to engage through the channels we've established to do just that, as Foreign Minister Lavrov said this morning and in public. And we'll be pursuing it, as well." "At a news conference, Blinken revealed this to reporters.

Russian spy colonel convicted of murder

The comments from both sides indicate that a negotiation process that has already proven difficult could get even more complex in the days to come. A former Russian spy colonel convicted of murder in Germany last year was requested by Russian officials to be included in the US' planned trade of famed arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Paul Whelan, multiple individuals involved with the conversations told CNN last month.

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Whelan

Whelan, a US citizen, has been jailed by Russia since 2018 and was convicted by a Russian court in 2020 on espionage allegations that he has vigorously rejected. Griner's conviction has generated similar concerns that she is being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US State Department deems the two detainees to be unlawfully imprisoned.

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Star of the Women's National Basketball Association

The star of the Women's National Basketball Association, Brittney Griner, admitted to bringing cannabis oil into a Moscow airport on February 17 and pleaded guilty to the charge. To avoid violating Russia's rigorous anti-drug regulations, she claimed to have been "stress packing" and was unaware of the country's strict drug laws.

Griner apologised to the court before Thursday's verdict and appealed for leniency in a heartfelt address. In a statement, she maintained she had no intention of harming anyone, putting the Russian people in peril, or breaking any local laws.

"It is my sincere wish that your decision does not end my life in this country. As much as I'd like to think that this courtroom isn't a political arena, I know that's not the case "She went on to say more.

Griner's lawyers

It had been thought that Griner's lawyers would get a less sentence because of her guilty plea and declarations of regret. When asked by reporters about her conviction, Blinken said that it "puts a spotlight on [Washington's] very major issue with Russia's legal system and the Russian government's use of wrongfully detained persons as political pawn." It also applies to Paul Whelan, said Blinken.

US State Department

An official from the US State Department told reporters earlier in the day that Russia had given no "serious reaction" to a proposed trade. No meeting between Blinken and Lavrov occurred during the Cambodia summit, and Blinken had no plans to meet with Lavrov. For Brittney Griner's 42-second tribute, players and fans from both teams stood in unison around centre court before the start of the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Connecticut Sun on Thursday.

As the final 42 seconds ticked down, the crowd began screaming, "Bring her back with you! Bring her back to your house!"