Russia's Lavrov says he will discuss US prisoner swap offer

Russia wants a convicted murderer to be included in US prisoner swap that would see ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout traded for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan

  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, an ex-US Marine
  • In order to release the Americans, US officials said they offered to hand over Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ 
  • Russian officials also reportedly requested for a convicted murderer and Kremlin spy Vadim Krasikov to be included in the prisoner swap
  • The request was made by Russia’s backchannel spy agency, the FSB, but sources said the US is not considering Krasikov’s inclusion in the deal
  • Griner was arrested for carrying cannabis oil in February, and Whelan was convicted of espionage in 2020, which the U.S. said were false   

Russia requested that a convicted murder to be included in a proposed swap with the US that would see ‘Merchant of Death’ convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout traded for WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detainee. 

Although Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he was not aware of a trade deal until Friday, it was revealed that Russian officials had requested the US help free Kremlin spy Vadim Krasikov in exchange for Griner and Paul Whelan, a former Marine from Michigan, CNN reported.

The request to free Krasikov, a convicted murderer who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany last year, was reportedly brought forth by Russia’s backchannel spy agency, the FSB. 

The possible inclusion of Krasikov, who killed a former Chechen fighter in Berlin in 2019, was seen as ‘problematic,’ sources told CNN, and was not viewed as a legitimate counter to America’s offer. 

The revelation comes just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed his Russian counterpart to accept the deal in place. 

Russian officials requested for a convicted murder and Kremlin spy Vadim Krasikov (pictured) to be included in the proposed US prison swap that would see ‘Merchant of Death’ convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout traded for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan


Russia’s foreign minister said he was open to discussing the release of Griner (left) and Whelan (right), both of whom have family advocating for the government to help bring them home

In order to release the Americans, US officials said they had offered to hand over Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (center), known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ 

WHO IS VLADIM KRASIKOV? 

Vadim Krasikov, 56, is a Russian spy, who was found guilty of killing 40-year-old Chechen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Germany in 2019. 

Going under the alias of Vadim Sokolov, the Russian agent shot and killed Khangoshvili in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten park in broad daylight.

Khangoshvili, who had been seeking asylum in Germany, was considered a terrorist by Moscow after he led troops fighting against Russia in the Second Chechen War. 

Berlin’s regional court said Krasikov carried out the killing on the orders of the Russian state, having entered the country on a fake French-issued passport. 

The Kremlin slammed the ruling as ‘political,’ with Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the allegations against Krasikov ‘absolutely groundless.’  

Russia’s backchannel spy agency, the FSB, had allegedly requested America help free Krasikov as part of a prisoner exchange that would see ‘Merchant of Death’ convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout traded for WBNA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine. 

Sources told CNN that although the proposition to include Krasikov was never discussed by high-ranking officials in either government, US officials allegedly made quiet inquires to Germany about the imprisoned Russian. 

Krasikov, 56, who went under the alias Vadim Sokolov, was found guilty of killing 40-year-old Chechen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten park on August 23, 2019.

Khangoshvili, who had been seeking asylum in Germany, led troops fighting against Russia in the Second Chechen War, and was considered a terrorist by Moscow. 

The murder occurred in broad daylight at the park, with Krasikov shooting the man from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun.

Berlin’s regional court said Krasikov carried out the killing on the orders of the Russian state, having entered the country on a fake French-issued passport. 

The Kremlin slammed the ruling as ‘political,’ with Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the allegations against Krasikov ‘absolutely groundless.’ 

Although the request to include Krasikov was not made through formal channels, the FSB is still part of Russia’s core government as it’s the successor to the KGB, where Vladimir Putin famously worked. 

The US State Department said it would not comment on the prison swap deal. 

‘In order to preserve the best opportunity for a successful outcome, we’re not going to comment publicly on any speculation,’ the department said.

Blinken described Friday’s call with Sergey Lavrov as ‘a frank and direct conversation’ centered primarily on the proposal for the release of the Americans.

‘I urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to move forward with that proposal,’ Blinken told reporters. ‘I can’t give you an assessment of whether that is any more or less likely.’

Lavrov said he was open to the discussions to free Griner and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine from Michigan, and claimed Russia was not aware of any deal despite Blinken’s statement on Wednesday that America had made a ‘substantial offer’ weeks ago. 

‘I will listen to what he has to say,’ Lavrov said while on a visit to Uzbekistan.

Moscow’s top diplomat said he would be ready to discuss the trade once he returned to Moscow and that the timing of the call was being worked out.

It was Blinken’s first talk with his Russian counterpart since before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured on Friday) urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, an ex-US Marine

Lavrov (left), said he was not aware of any deals before Friday despite U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying on Wednesday that America had made a ‘substantial offer’ weeks ago

While discussing a possible prisoner exchange, Blinken also said he had pressed Lavrov on the importance of Russia following through on an agreement to allow Ukrainian grain shipments to leave the Black Sea.

The Blinken warned Putin’s foreign minister of the consequences should Moscow move ahead with suspected plans to annex portions of eastern and southern Ukraine. 

The US officials said he told Lavrov that the world will ‘never recognize’ any annexation of Ukrainian territory, which he said would ‘will result in significant additional costs for Russia.’

He declined to comment on how Lavrov replied to his messages. ‘I don´t want to characterize any of Foreign Minister Lavrov´s responses.’

Asked Thursday about the U.S. offer, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied that prisoner swaps were typically negotiated discreetly behind the scenes. 

‘We know that such issues are discussed without any such release of information,’ Peskov told reporters during a conference call. ‘Normally, the public learns about it when the agreements are already implemented.’

On Wednesday, Blinken told reporters:’ There was a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal. 

‘And I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope move us toward a resolution.’ 

Blinken’s comments marked the first time the U.S. government publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure Griner’s release. 

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and player for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 when inspectors found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Cannabis is illegal in Russia, with no exceptions made for medicinal treatment. 

Griner’s arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine on February 24. 

Griner’s five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States.

Griner (pictured on Wednesday), two-time Olympic gold medalist and player for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 

Griner’s five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the U.S. calling on the Biden administration to broker her release

The 31-year-old has pleaded guilty but said she had no criminal intent in bringing the cartridges to Russia and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA’s offseason

Her trial on drug charges started in a court outside Moscow this month, and she testified Wednesday that she didn’t know how the cartridges ended up in her bag but that she had a doctor’s recommendation to use cannabis to treat career-related pain.

Griner told the Russian court that while she was aware of the country’s law, she needed the cannabis to stave off her pain and do well in the season. 

‘It’s the most important part of the season, after the break. It’s playoffs’ Griner said. The whole season I worked, my team worked hard to get to a good position.

‘There was nothing that was going to change that for me. I didn’t want to let my team down.

‘I did know about the ‘do not fly’ advisory, but like I said, there was nothing that was going to change my mind on coming back and finishing my duty for my team,’ she added.

The 31-year-old has pleaded guilty but said she had no criminal intent in bringing the cartridges to Russia and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA’s offseason. 

She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs.

The Biden administration has faced political pressure to free Griner and other Americans whom the U.S. has declared to be ‘wrongfully detained’ – a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials.

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges in 2020. He and his family have vigorously asserted his innocence.

Whelan (pictured behind Russian bars in 2019 during his trial) was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges in 2020. The U.S. has denounced the charges as false

Bout, 55, illegally sold 700 surface-to-air missiles, thousands of guns, high-tech helicopters and planes fitted with grenade launches and counted the Taliban, Muammar Gaddafi and Liberian dictator Charles Taylor as his clients

Bout inspired Nicolas Cage’s character, arms dealer Yuri Orlov, in the 2005 film Lord of War

Russia has for years expressed interest in the release of Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on weapons selling charges. 

The former Soviet officer, 55, illegally sold 700 surface-to-air missiles, thousands of guns, high-tech helicopters and planes fitted with grenade launches and counted the Taliban, Muammar Gaddafi and Liberian dictator Charles Taylor as his clients.

He was nabbed by authorities in Thailand in 2011 after a sting operation, but his arrest and conviction have long aggravated Moscow.

‘Today, one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers is being held accountable for his sordid past,’ former Attorney General Eric Holder said following Bout’s arrest in 2011.

Bout was the main inspiration for Nicolas Cage’s character in the 2005 film Lord of War. 

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