{"id":1174988,"date":"2022-08-11T22:02:56","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T22:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/11\/update-russian-officials-confirm-discussion-to-swap-brittney-griner-is-underway\/"},"modified":"2022-08-11T22:02:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T22:02:56","slug":"update-russian-officials-confirm-discussion-to-swap-brittney-griner-is-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/11\/update-russian-officials-confirm-discussion-to-swap-brittney-griner-is-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"(Update) Russian Officials Confirm Discussion To Swap Brittney Griner Is Underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Eight days after being sentenced to 9.5 years in a Russian prison, the country confirmed the first discussion to swap Brittney Griner and another American prisoner, Paul Whelan, is underway.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Washington Post reports that Russian officials confirmed this announcement on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV \/ AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Discussions are taking place via a channel President Biden and Putin agreed to back in June last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ivan Nechayev, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Instructions were given to authorized structures to carry out\u00a0<\/span>negotiations,\u201d Nechayev said. \u201cThey are being conducted by competent authorities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Russia stated they were ready to proceed with talks about a prisoner swap last week but reiterated that they would decline the prisoner swap if the US continued to discuss details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Biden told White House reporters he\u2019s \u201chopeful\u201d and \u201cwe\u2019re working hard\u201d to get Brittney Griner back home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Did Russian Officials Arrest Paul Whelan?<\/h2>\n
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JUST IN: Family of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia for more than three years, say they now have \u201ca little bit of hope\u201d after learning the U.S. has offered a prisoner swap to bring him and Brittney Griner home.
Paul Whelan\u2019s twin brother speaks o\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/TkvRdU0CRU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan Brooks (@Jonatha72174591) August 11, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Authorities arrested Whelan in 2018 and convicted him in 2020 for spying. Whelan maintained someone framed him, and the US says he\u2019s \u201cwrongfully detained.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brittney Griner\u2019s Conviction<\/span><\/h2>\n

On Thursday, a Russian court found Brittney Griner guilty of attempted drug smuggling and possession.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to\u00a0<\/span>CNN,\u00a0<\/span><\/em>the guilty verdict says Brittney\u00a0<\/span>had criminal intent<\/span>\u00a0when she tried to enter the country with less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Before the conviction, Russian prosecutors<\/span>\u00a0asked the court<\/span>\u00a0to consider giving the WNBA star 9.5 years in their closing. Shortly after news of the verdict broke, Brittney\u2019s lawyers confirmed the Russian court obliged the prosecutors\u2019 request. As a result, Griner received\u00a0<\/span>nine years<\/span>\u00a0in a penal colony, per\u00a0<\/span>The New York Times.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Additionally, the judge fined Brittney about $16,300\u2013one million rubles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roomies, what do you think of this?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n