Russia has delivered a stern warning to the United States after Brittney Griner’s sentencing.
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden slammed Russia for giving Griner a 9-year prison sentence and vowed to bring her home in a statement.
“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates,” “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”
According to the Associated Press, Russia sent a message warning the U.S. not to politicize the issue in public.
The Kremlin is open about a possible prisoner swap with U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner but warned Washington against publicizing it. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke last week with Russia's foreign minister and urged him to accept a deal. https://t.co/bFW2Z9PZx4
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 5, 2022
The Kremlin said Friday that it’s open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner but strongly warned Washington against publicizing the issue…In an extraordinary move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke last week to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept a deal under which Griner and Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia on espionage charges, would go free.”
As of now the U.S. has reportedly offered trading Griner and Paul Whelan for notorious Russian arms trader, Viktor Bout better known as “the merchant of death.”
