U.S. Offers to Release Convicted Arms Dealer in Exchange for Brittney Griner
28.07.2022 - 02:45
/ metroweekly.com
CNN.Labeled the “Merchant of Death,” Bout is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being arrested during a federal sting operation in 2008. Bout, who was accused with conspiring to sell weapons to people who intended to kill Americans, was convicted of offering to sell weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, to federal agents posing as members of the guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.In exchange for Bout’s release, Russia would release Griner and Paul Whelan, a former U.S.
Marine who the United States claims has been “wrongfully detained” since 2018, back into U.S. custody.Whelan, who served as director of global security and investigations for an Michigan-based international automotive parts manufacturer at the time of his arrest, was detained while visiting Russia to attend the wedding of a fellow Marine.
He was charged with espionage, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but has denied spying, claiming he was set up in a sting operation.Griner, a lesbian, is currently on trial, having been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle illegal drugs into Russia. If convicted, she could spend more than a decade in jail.Blinken said he will urge his Russian counterpart, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, to respond to the offer this week.
Their chat will mark the first time the two have spoken since Russia invaded Ukraine.According to CNN, the U.S. Department of Justice had opposed a prisoner trade to ensure Griner’s release, but caved to pressure from State and White House officials.