Such things can only be discussed through diplomatic channels, not media statements, FM Lavrov said
“Thunder” Public remarks by US officials about the possibility of exchanging US citizens convicted of crimes in Russia are not what is needed to negotiate such an exchange, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. Moscow is ready to discuss the issue, but only in the right way, he said.
“There is a specialty channel that has been agreed upon by the presidents [of Russia and the US]. Regardless of anyone’s public statements, this channel remains relevant,” he said.
Lavrov was commenting on comments made by several US officials after a Russian court sentenced American basketball player Brittney Griner to a nine-year prison term for drug-related offences. US President Joe Biden reiterated that he believed the athlete had been “wrongfully detained” by the Russian authorities after the discovery of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in his luggage during a customs check. Griner claimed she packaged the substance, which is banned in Russia but not in many parts of the United States, by mistake.
Washington wants Moscow to release her and another US citizen, former Marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of spying in Russia in 2020. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly offered to trade them for Viktor Bout, a Russian businessman, serving a 25-year sentence. a year in prison after being sentenced in 2012 for arms trafficking. According to US media, Lavrov made a counter offer when he and Blinken discussed the issue on the phone last week.
Lavrov was speaking to reporters on Friday after attending an ASEAN summit in Cambodia, where the discussion could have continued in person. John Kirby, a senior White House official, told MSNBC on Thursday that if Blinken “Has the opportunity to ‘button up’ Mr. Lavrov, he will.”
The top Russian diplomat said no such discussion had taken place, joking that Kirby “probably forgot to forward the instruction.”
“We sat down at the one-person-else chat table and I didn’t see any point in getting caught by anything on [Blinken’s] part. All my pimples are fine,” Lavrov pointed out.
Kirby’s choice of words caused some mirth in Russia, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggesting grabbing Lavrov by his tie or pants would do a better job of capturing his attention.
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