Families are pressing United States to protect release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and previous United States marine Paul Whelan, kept in Russia.
Published On 16 Sep 2022
United States President Joe Biden has actually consulted with the households of basketball star Brittney Griner and previous marine Paul Whelan, in the middle of continuing efforts in Washington to protect 2 American residents’ release from detention in Russia.
Biden took a seat in the Oval Office on Friday with Cherelle Griner, the spouse of Griner, and Elizabeth Whelan, the ex-marine’s sis.
The conferences started quickly prior to 5pm (21: 00 GMT), the White House stated.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, stated previously today that Biden hoped the in person talks will reveal the households “that they stay front of mind” for the United States administration.
” While I would enjoy to state that the function of this conference is to notify the households that the Russians have actually accepted our deal and we are bringing their loved-ones house, that is not what we’re seeing in these settlements at this time,” Jean-Pierre informed press reporters.
Griner, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and two-time Olympic gold medallist, was sentenced to 9 years in prison last month over drug charges.
She was detained in February, days prior to Russia released a full-blown intrusion of Ukraine, and her case has actually moved through the Russian court system in the middle of torn relations in between Moscow and Washington over the war.
Whelan, a marine veteran, was sentenced to 16 years in jail in 2020 on espionage charges.
The United States State Department has actually called the jail time of both United States people unjustified.
Earlier on Friday, a White House National Security Council spokesperson stated settlements with Moscow to protect the 2 Americans’ release are continuing.
” The president felt it was necessary to continue the discussion with the relative … We have actually remained in touch with them throughout; we have actually kept them notified throughout,” John Kirby informed press reporters.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in July that Washington made a “considerable proposition” to Moscow to totally free Griner and Whelan.
Several United States media outlets reported about that time that the Biden administration used a detainee exchange including a Russian arms dealership imprisoned in the United States.
On Friday, Kirby informed press reporters that Russia has actually not reacted to that deal, “however that does not imply that we’re not still in settlements or we’re not still attempting”.
Moscow stated last month that it was “all set” to talk about a detainee swap handle Washington.
Meanwhile, Griner’s family members, colleagues and fans have actually been getting in touch with the United States federal government to put its complete weight behind the case to promote her release.
Griner was implicated of bringing vape cylinders consisting of marijuana oil into Russia, where she was set to bet a basketball group in Yekaterinburg.
Despite the degrading ties in between Washington and Moscow, Russia in April released Trevor Reed, a previous United States marine. In exchange, the United States launched Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20- year sentence in the United States over drug charges.
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Al Jazeera and news companies