American WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for over 200 days after she was found guilty on drug charges and is now serving a nine-year sentence, but it looks like the United States is making a significant move towards bringing her back to the United States.
According to a report from CNN, former New Mexico governor and diplomat Bill Richardson was in Moscow with his team meeting with Russian leadership this week. While CNN did not know or report the specifics of the meetings, Richardson notoriously works to free hostages and detainees in other countries. Given the United States’ ongoing negotiations with Russia regarding Griner, it’s likely Richardson was in Moscow negotiating her release.
A prisoner swap has long been seen as the most likely outcome for this situation and the United States and Russia could come to a resolution soon that includes swapping Griner and another American prisoner in exchange for Victor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death” who is currently serving a 25-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to sell weapons to people who said they planned to kill Americans.
It’s been a long process since Griner’s initial detainment, but if the latest news is any indication, it looks like we’re finally nearing a rsolution.
[CNN]
