Ya knew Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner would only get set free if Russia got something for it….
In the spy game?
THAT is how things are done….
The Russian’s would get back Vadim Krasikov , a Russian arms dealer, the US has behind bars….
But now?
There seems to be a wrinkle….
The US wouild be getting TWO back for One……
Hmmmm?
The Russian’s have countered with adding a Russian intell guy the Germans have for killing someone….
This IS how the game IS played and Biden will probably get the German’s to go along for the guy the German’s have or someone else….
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov “strongly suggested” to Blinken that the United States should return to a mode of “quiet diplomacy” regarding a possible prisoner exchange “without speculative information stuffing.”
It’s unclear if Krasikov was discussed on the call.
Multiple sources told CNN that even if it is not Krasikov, the Russians will likely demand two prisoners be released in exchange for Griner and Whelan. Russian government officials have indicated publicly in recent weeks that they want to see the release of Bout and Roman Seleznev, a convicted hacker currently serving a 27-year sentence in the US.
“I’m not sure that any additional activity, especially in the public sphere, will help a correct, balanced compromise and find a basis to alleviate the fate of a lot of our compatriots such as Viktor Bout, who has health problems, [or] such as Seleznev, and many others,” Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters earlier this month.
But US officials believe Russia is just trying to buy time by making unserious offers until Griner’s trial is over.
Griner is on trial for allegedly entering Russia in February with cannabis oil in her luggage, something she said she uses for pain relief and that she packed in her bags unintentionally. Whelan was convicted on espionage charges in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The State Department has declared both of them wrongfully detained….
Duty To Warn 🔉
@duty2warn
Trump has sided with Russia in the Brittany Griner case. So, Bill Maher has suggested we arrest Trump, and swap him for Griner in a prisoner exchange with the Russians.
Sounds like a plan.