The case of WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury basketball player Brittney Griner has finally received some good news, as the athlete continues to serve a nine-year prison sentence in Russia after being found guilty of felony drug possession on August 6.
According to an interview offered by the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson on CNN with Jake Tapper, the former official commented on the feelings left by a visit he made to Moscow in which he has tried to sound out the intentions of the Government of Vladimir Putin, by meeting with officials close to the Russian president.
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“I am cautiously optimistic on the Greiner-Wheeler (sic) negotiations,” Richardson said. “I am cautiously optimistic. I think it’s going to be a two-for-two deal.”
In addition to Griner, Richardson spoke of Paul Whelan, a U.S., Canadian and British citizen who is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being found guilty of espinage offenses, which he does not acknowledge.
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The reported plan that the negotiation for the release of Griner and Whelan would involve Viktor Bout, the famous “Merchant of Death” who is imprisoned in the United States, has been accepted by Richardson, who did not speak of another prisoner’s name being involved.
Paul Whelan and Viktor Bout would be involved in the negotiation
Coupled with this, Richardson was questioned by Tapper about whether he saw it likely that both Griner and Whelan would be released before the end of 2022, and the answer was blunt.
“I do think so,” Richardson said. “(I’m) just giving you my assessment after two visits to Russia on behalf of American hostages.”
In addition, Richardson said that on his visits he was able to sense the Russian government’s readiness for the need to conduct this negotiation.
“I got the sense that the Russian officials that I met with, that I’ve known over the years, are ready to talk,” Richardson said. “I got a good sense from the Russians, the vibrations, but I’m not a government official.”
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