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Russia ready to discuss prisoner swap with US, says Lavrov after Griner conviction

2022-08-05T10:06:16.447Z


Russia is ready to discuss a prisoner swap with the United States through a diplomatic channel agreed by both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.


Prisoner Exchange: Consequences for Other Americans 1:30

(CNN) --

Russia is ready to discuss a prisoner swap with the United States through a diplomatic channel agreed upon by both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday, state news agency RIA Novosti reported. .

"On the issue of people being convicted in Russia and in the United States... 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 place,” Lavrov told a news conference in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Friday.

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"We are ready to discuss this issue, but within the framework of the channel that the presidents have agreed on," Lavrov added.

Her comments come a day after American women's basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years in prison, in a case that has raised concerns she is being used as a political pawn in the Russian war against Ukraine.

During the trial, Griner pleaded guilty to carrying less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in his luggage while traveling through a Moscow airport on February 17.

He testified in court that he was aware of Russia's strict drug laws and had no intention of bringing cannabis into the country, saying he left in a hurry and "packed under stress."

Before the verdict, Griner apologized in court and pleaded for mercy in an emotional speech.

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"I never wanted to hurt anyone, I never wanted to endanger the Russian population, I never wanted to break any laws here," Griner said.

"I made an honest mistake and I hope that his ruling does not end my life here. I know everyone keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this room."

Brittney Griner

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2022-08-05

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