Russian officials confirmed that they are negotiating with the United States over a prisoner swap.
According to the Washington Post citing Russian news outlet Tass, Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Ivan Nechayev said this Thursday at a news briefing that “corresponding competent authorities have been instructed to negotiate the issue” and “are in talks” on the matter.
The United States proposed a prisoner exchange to release WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
This latest update comes a week after Griner was found guilty of drug charges in a Russian court and sentenced to nine years in prison. As for Whelan, he was arrested back in 2018 on spying charges.
He was handed down 16 years in prison in 2016.
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