Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

US urging 1 for 2 prisoner exchange with Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Aug 2022 12:06
3 Min Read

Washington is requesting an exchange on what many deem unfair grounds: It's Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

  • x
  • Brittney Griner arrives at the Khimki Court outside Moscow on Wednesday. (AFP)
    Brittney Griner arrives at the Khimki Court outside Moscow on Wednesday. (AFP)

Upon discovery of "significant amounts" of cannabis oil in her vape cartridges in February, Russian authorities accused US basketball star Brittney Griner of smuggling and possessing narcotics, sentencing her to 9 years in prison this week. 

Within the same timeframe and context, when Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, the US and Europe not only cracked down on Russian assets and businesses, but also on Russian citizens and assets, creating multifrontal diplomatic tensions.

In a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the US authorities are ready to take the necessary steps to bring home US nationals Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who've been convicted in Russia.

"Under President Biden’s direction, the US government continues to work aggressively, pursuing every avenue to bring home Brittney, Paul Whelan, and every American held hostage and wrongfully detained around the world," she said.

Jean-Pierre furthermore divulged that Washington has been urging Moscow to accept its prisoner swap proposal: "As you all know, we have made a substantial offer to bring her and Paul Whelan home. We urge Russia to accept that proposal.

Related News

Syria welcomes US decision to lift sanctions, hosts US delegation

Trump claims Gaza war to end in weeks, despite ongoing Israeli assault

"I’m not able to share more publicly at this time, but we are willing to take every step necessary to bring home our people <…>. And that’s what we’re going to do here," she added.

On Thursday, Moscow's Khimki Court sentenced Griner to 9 years in prison for smuggling and possession of drugs - the court asked for 9.5 years.

Washington has recently offered Moscow to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen imprisoned in the US under charges of arms trade. This became one of the points of discussion between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

Read more: Kremlin: No prisoner exchange between Russia and US taking place

On his part, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said the Russian court's sentencing of US basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison was "unacceptable."

"Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It's unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately," Biden claimed in a statement.

Dmitry Peksov, Kremlin's spokesperson, denied Griner was being held hostage: "We cannot call her a hostage. Why should we call her a hostage? She violated Russian law and now she is being prosecuted," the Kremlin Spokesperson said.

  • United States
  • Sergey Lavrov
  • Russia
  • Paul Whelan
  • Brittney Griner
  • Antony Blinken
  • Viktor Bout
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS