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US Secretary of State Sergei Lavrov
Photo: IMAGO/Russian Foreign Ministry / IMAGO/ITAR-TASS
According to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia is ready to discuss with Washington a prisoner swap for US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was convicted on Thursday.
Moscow is "ready to talk about the issue," Lavrov said at a press conference during a visit to Cambodia.
However, a direct communication channel between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, which had been agreed between the two, must be maintained.
Griner has been in Russian custody for more than five months.
Most recently, a Russian court found her guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced Griner to nine years in prison.
The public prosecutor had asked for nine and a half years.
Griner's defense plans to appeal the decision.
more on the subject
US basketball player jailed in Russia: Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years in prison
US basketball player Griner imprisoned in Russia: Putin's hostageBy Marc Pitzke, New York
The 31-year-old basketball player was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February.
Security forces had previously found cannabis oil in their luggage.
Griner had pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial.
Her lawyer argued that the athlete's oil was prescribed by her doctor as a pain reliever.
In the USA, too, she only took it “occasionally”.
In Russia, however, cannabis is also banned for medicinal purposes.
Biden finds verdict unacceptable
US President Biden called the verdict unacceptable.
"Russia is wrongly holding Brittney," Biden said in a statement.
"This is unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so that she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates."
The US government is trying to free Griner and former US soldier Paul Whelan, who is also being held in Russia, via a prisoner swap (read more here).
In return, according to US information, Russia should demand the release of Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the Tiergarten murder.
mfh/AFP
