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Moscow says it is able to negotiate the destiny of American prisoners in Russia, however has accused the US of participating in “media insanity” after President Joe Biden personally met with the households of two American detainees final week.
Biden held separate conferences with the kinfolk {of professional} basketballer Brittney Griner and ex-marine Paul Whelan on the White Home on Friday, marking the primary time he personally convened them for the reason that two have been detained.
“As an alternative of fulfilling its direct official duties — sustaining contacts with the diplomats of the host nation — the US Embassy in Moscow is engaged in some sort of media insanity,” Russian International Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mentioned in an announcement on Telegram on Monday, pointing to movies and “humorous footage” posted by the US embassy in Moscow, in addition to Biden’s assembly.
“Kinfolk have been unable to get a transparent clarification from the President of america about Russia’s calls for for a prisoner alternate,” she mentioned, including that she realized of the small print of the assembly by a CNN report citing Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s spouse.
She added that she must flip to Whelan and Griner’s kinfolk herself.
“We have now acknowledged many instances that we’re prepared for negotiations to resolve the destiny of convicted US residents in Russia and Russian residents convicted in america.”
“If the US Embassy in Moscow has a minute of free time they may inform President Biden about it, and he, in flip, will inform the kinfolk of Whelan and Griner,” Zakharova mentioned.
Following Griner’s sentencing in August, the US and Russia indicated they have been prepared to carry talks over a prisoner swap.
Griner was detained in February, accused of carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her baggage. The 2-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist pleaded responsible to drug expenses and mentioned she by accident packed the medication whereas in a rush. She has been sentenced to 9 years, together with a tremendous of round $16,400. Her authorized staff in Russia has appealed the sentence.
Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for greater than three years after being convicted on espionage expenses that he denies. He was sentenced in June 2020 to 16 years in jail in a trial US officers denounced as unfair.
Within the conferences, Biden reiterated “his continued dedication to working by all out there avenues to convey Brittney and Paul house safely,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned in an announcement on Friday. “The President appreciated the chance to study extra about Brittney and Paul from those that love them most, and acknowledged that each minute they’re being held is a minute too lengthy.”