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Moscow says it is open to talks about the fate of American prisoners in Russia, but President Joe Biden has been in a “media frenzy” over the United States since he met personally with the families of two American prisoners last week. Alleged involvement.
Biden Met the relatives separately. Professional basketball player Brittany Griner and ex-Marine Paul Whelan met at the White House on Friday, when he personally called on them for the first time since both were detained.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Telegram on Monday that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow serves as a media outlet to maintain contacts with host country diplomats — rather than fulfilling its direct official duties. Obsessed with madness. Pointing to videos and “funny photos” posted by the US Embassy in Moscow as well as Biden’s meeting.
“Relatives were unable to get a clear explanation from the US president about the demands for a Russian prisoner exchange,” he said, adding that he quoted Britney’s wife, Cheryl Griner, in a CNN interview. Learn the meeting details through the report.
He added that he would have to go to Whalen and Greiner’s relatives himself.
“We have said many times that we are open to negotiations to resolve the fate of American citizens convicted in Russia and Russian citizens convicted in the United States.”
“If the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has a spare minute, they will tell President Biden about it, and they will tell Whelan and Griner’s relatives,” Zakharova said.
After Greiner’s conviction in August, the United States and Russia indicated they were. Ready for negotiations. On the exchange of prisoners.
Griner was taken into custody in February, accused of having cannabis oil vape cartridges in his possession. The two-time U.S. Olympic basketball gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug charges and said she accidentally packed the drugs in a hurry. He was sentenced to nine years in prison with a fine of approximately $16,400. His legal team in Russia has appealed against the sentence.
Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for more than three years after being convicted of espionage, which he denies. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2020 in a trial that US authorities described as unfair.
In the meetings, Biden “reiterated his continued commitment to working in all available ways to bring Brittany and Paul home safely,” White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said in a statement Friday. “The president appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittany and Paul from the people who love them most, and recognized that every minute they are held is a minute too long. “