US urges Russia to accept deal to free jailed basketball star

Friday, 5 August 2022Newsdesk

The US has urged Moscow to accept a deal to free basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.

New Delhi, 05 August 2022

As per news report of BBC, the double Olympic winner was convicted of possessing and smuggling drugs after admitting to possessing cannabis oil. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US offer was "a serious proposal", but gave no details. On Friday, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is ready to discuss the topic. US media reports suggest Washington is offering a prisoner swap involving a Russian arms trafficker. Viktor Bout - known as the "merchant of death" - is serving a 25 year-prison sentence in the US.

Source - BBC