The sporting world has been anxiously waiting for the release of WNBA star, Brittney Griner, who is currently serving a jail term in Russia. It was also reported that the US government has decided to do a prison swap to bring Griner back. Meanwhile, former world champion, Roy Jones Jr. is ready to flex his Russian diplomatic connections to get Griner released.
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Griner was detained by the Federal Security Service at the Sheremetyevo International Airport on February 12, 2022. It was reported that she was carrying vaporizer cartridges containing hash oil. Moreover, this hash oil which was prescribed as medical cannabis was illegal in Russia.
She was later sentenced to nine years in prison and fined one million rubles (approx $16,427).
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ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – MAY 10, 2019: American former professional boxer Roy Jones Jr during a master class for students of the St Petersburg Sport Boxing Federation. Peter Kovalev/TASS (Photo by Peter KovalevTASS via Getty Images)
Jones Jr. recently revealed that he was willing to get personally involved to ensure Griner’s release. Talking about the US Government’s decision, he said, “Right now, I’m hearing they’re trying to do a prisoner swap. If they do the prisoner swap, that will be good. If the prisoner swap does not work then you have to understand that I’m a diplomatic type of person.”
In fact, he mentioned that he was willing to speak to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Jones Jr. said, “If I go there, if this doesn’t work I will go to Mr. Putin myself.”
It is worth noting that Jones Jr. also holds dual Russian-American citizenship.
Roy Jones Jr. suggested the prisoner swap
Roy Jones Jr. was a regular visitor to Russia, during his career as a boxer. The Russian population’s love for the boxer even paved way for his Russian citizenship. And, ‘Captain Hook’ has still kept his ties strong with the country.
He even spoke to his acquaintances in Russia to help Griner. Jones Jr. said, “So I said call them. What can they do? What are they willing to do for us to get Griner back?”
The U.S. has made a prisoner exchange offer to Russia for WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American, according to @CNN.
Viktor Bout, who is a convicted Russian arms dealer, is reportedly part of the possible exchange.
More details → https://t.co/FtEaCqmiam pic.twitter.com/QU3aSTNXU5
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 28, 2022
It was then reported that the Russian Government wished to do a prisoner swap. And, Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, was chosen as the prison in exchange for Griner. It should also be mentioned that Bout is a notorious criminal, serving a 25-year sentence for aiding a terrorist organization in a conspiracy to kill US citizens.
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Vibhanshu Kumar