Former US diplomat Bill Richardson said he was "
optimistic
" on Sunday about negotiations to free US women's basketball star Brittney Griner, detained in Russia, in a potential "
two-for-two
" prisoner swap.
Considered one of the best basketball players in the world, Brittney Griner, 31, was sentenced last week to 9 years in prison by a Russian court in a controversial case of "
drug trafficking
", sparking a wave of indignation in the United States, especially in the world of sport.
“
I am optimistic.
I think she will be released, she has the right strategy of contrition
, ”said Mr. Richardson, who specializes in delicate missions to obtain the release of his compatriots, during an interview on the ABC channel.
"
There will be an exchange of prisoners but I think it will be more like two for two, especially with Paul Whelan
", a former American soldier who is serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia for "
espionage
", he said. to know.
These heavy sentences pave the way for a possible exchange of prisoners between Moscow and Washington, although diplomatic relations between the two countries have been extremely strained since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured that Russia was "
ready
" to discuss an exchange and the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken said that the United States would "
continue
" to discuss it with Moscow .
Washington had already announced last week that it had made a "
substantial
" and "
serious
" offer to Russia to obtain the return of Ms. Griner and Paul Whelan.
An exchange with an arms dealer?
According to several American media, it would be a question of exchanging a famous Russian arms trafficker detained in the United States, Viktor Bout.
But Bill Richardson's statement raises questions about the identity of a potential second Russian prisoner.
A former ambassador, minister and governor, Mr. Richardson has since converted to delicate missions to obtain the release of Americans detained by “
hostile regimes
”.
The hulking, dark-haired politician, sometimes dubbed the Indiana Jones of American diplomacy, had been involved in talks about former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, who was being held prisoner in Russia and released in April in exchange for Russian citizen Konstantin. Yaroshenko.