Russia admits it’s in talks for Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout prisoner exchange: diplomat

Russia has admitted that it is in talks with the US to exchange a notorious arms dealer for basketball player Brittney Griner, a Russian diplomat said.

The diplomat’s comments marked the first time Russia said it was in talks to exchange Griner for Viktor Bout, 55, who is in prison in the US, according to a report.

“The discussions on the very sensitive topic of an exchange are proceeding via the channels chosen by our presidents,” Alexander Datchiev, the head of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, was quoted as saying by state news agency TASS. “Silent diplomacy continues and should bear fruit if Washington, of course, is careful not to fall into propaganda.”

Griner, 31, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after vape cartridges containing a small amount of cannabis oil were found in her luggage. Griner was charged with smuggling drugs and sentenced to nine years in prison earlier this month.