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 agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

US urging 1 for 2 prisoner exchange with Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Aug 2022 11:06
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

Russia ratifies military deal with Cuba amid US escalation

Araghchi denies any contact with US envoy Witkoff over nuclear talks

"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

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
Al-Quds Brigades strike a command and control center north of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in an undated screengrab from the al-Quds Brigades military media

Gaza resistance announces major operations against Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

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