Russia hopeful of US prisoner swap

Russia says it hopes to secure a prisoner swap with the United States to return convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death”, in an exchange that would likely include U.S. basketball star, Brittney Griner.

“I want to hope that the prospect not only remains but is being strengthened and that the moment will come when we will get a concrete agreement,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

“The Americans are showing some external activity, we are working professionally through a special channel designed for this.

 “Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed, and we certainly count on a positive result,” Ryabkov said.

The possible swap includes Griner, facing nine years behind bars in Russia after being convicted on drug charges, and Paul Whelan who is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia after being convicted of espionage charges that he denies.

Also Read: Brittney Griner: US, Russia to discuss prisoner swap

Variously dubbed “the merchant of death” and“the sanctions buster“ for his ability to get around arms embargoes, Bout was one of the world’s most wanted men prior to his 2008 arrest on multiple charges related to arms trafficking.

The distinctly upbeat remarks from Ryabkov, Russia’s foreign ministry point man for the Americas and arms control, contrast with previous statements from Moscow which have cautioned Washington against trying to engage in megaphone diplomacy over the prisoner swap.

For the two former Cold War foes, now grappling with the gravest confrontation since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the exchange would mark one of the more extraordinary prisoner swaps in their history.

Zainab Sa’id