The Russian authorities have remained silent for the most part on the detention of Brittney Griner. The controversial WNBA star has been stuck in Russia for over nine months. In fact, she is currently serving a nine-year sentence for drug possession charges at the IK-2 penal colony in Mordovia. Amid reports of forced labor and inhumane conditions potentially faced by Griner, the Kremlin has recently offered the biggest update yet on the prisoner swap deal involving Brittney Griner.
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After her appeal was denied by the Russian judiciary in October, Brittney Griner was transferred to a penal colony in Mordovia, around 250 miles southeast of Moscow. Mordovia’s penal colonies are relics of the Soviet era’s Gulag system. After no hopeful results from the Russian legal system, all hopes for BG’s freedom lies in the hands of the US government.
Russian diplomat talks about the prisoner swap deal involving Brittney Griner
As per a recent report, a spokesperson representing the Kremlin shared an update on the prisoner swap deal involving Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. In response to a question on the finalization of the swap deal, the spokesperson refused to give a definitive answer.
The Russian representative stated, “We do not comment and ask everyone to remain silent.”
https://twitter.com/gchahal/status/1598365764033347585
Unfortunately, the Russian authorities have refrained from revealing any inside details about the prisoner swap negotiations involving Brittney Griner. The spokesperson reiterated once again that Russia would like their US counterparts to not discuss the negotiations publicly. Therefore, the Kremlin has yet again remained silent on the deal as the ongoing negotiations take place through designated channels.
The statement has come after the Russian Deputy foreign minister spoke positively about the deal recently. In fact, he also established the country’s interest in working out the deal to improve US-Russia relations.
The prisoner swap deal offered by Washington
Back in July, the State Department proposed a prisoner swap deal involving Brittney Griner and retired US marine Paul Whelan. The Biden Administration offered to release convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange.
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However, the two countries have failed to reach an agreement despite months of negotiations through various channels. Therefore, the recent take from Moscow comes as concerning news for Griner and her family. Unfortunately, she is currently facing some of the most atrocious conditions imaginable inside her prison colony.
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Edited by
Satagni Sikder