The resonant theme of the exchange of prisoners between Russia and the United States acquires new details. CNN, citing unnamed sources, said, that Moscow allegedly sent to Washington, through unofficial FSB channels, a request for the return of Russian citizen Vadim Krasikov to his homeland. sources say, that the corresponding request was sent even before the start of negotiations on the exchange of Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan for the Russian businessman Viktor Bout.
Former Marine Whelan is already serving time for espionage in a Russian colony, and basketball player Greiner was arrested on charges of drug trafficking. Russian Viktor Bout served half of a 25-year sentence in an American prison under several articles. With a citizen of the Russian Federation Valim Krasikov, everything is more difficult. He was arrested in Germany on charges of killing former Chechen militant Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin's Kleiner Tiergarten park in 2019 year and sentenced to life imprisonment. German authorities claim, that Krasikov acted on the direct orders of the Russian law enforcement agencies.
TV channel reports, that the US authorities made a corresponding unofficial request to Berlin to clarify the status of Krasikov. According to a German source, negotiations on the inclusion of Krasikov in the exchange list are still being conducted through unofficial channels and are not being considered at the level of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany.
During Friday's telephone conversations between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the issue of a prisoner exchange was also raised..
I put pressure on the Kremlin, for him to accept a substantial offer, which we put forward about the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner - quoted CNN Blinken.
In its turn, as the edition writes, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov "urged Blinken, that the United States return to a regime of "quiet diplomacy" without speculative informational stuff about a possible prisoner exchange". Information from Tom, whether the issue of including Krasikov in the exchange list was discussed, no.
CNN reports, that even if Russia does not demand the return of Krasikov, then in any case, Moscow will insist on an exchange of equal quantity. According to the TV channel, possible inclusion in the list of Russian Roman Seleznev, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence in the US on hacking charges.
US officials believe, that Russia is just trying to buy time, making frivolous offers, until Greiner's trial is over, CNN concludes. Author:Alexander Grigoriev Photos used:https://pxhere.com/ru/photo/1187581
