Diplomat Says Russia And US Are Discussing Prisoner Swap

Deputy Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Ivan Nechayev. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Ivan Nechayev said Russian and US authorities were in talks to discuss prisoner swaps between the two countries.

"We have repeatedly commented on this. On August 5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Russia is ready to discuss this issue, but only in the channels negotiated by the Russian President (Vladimir Putin) and the US President (Joe Biden)," he explained. as launched TASS 11 August.

"Relevant competent authorities have been instructed to negotiate this matter. Competent bodies are in talks," the Russian diplomat continued.

He also reiterated Moscow's 'request' to Washington "not to speculate on sensitive issues affecting certain individuals."

“We would recommend abandoning futile attempts to pressure us, asking them to concentrate on practical work along the available channels. There is no other way,” Nechayev concluded.

"We proceed from the fact that negotiations must take the interests of both sides into account," the diplomat stressed.

Earlier, Washington offered Moscow to swap Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving a prison sentence in the US for arms trafficking, for basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to prison for drug trafficking, and Paul Whelan, who was convicted in Russia of spying.

The prisoner swap was one of the topics discussed in a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in late July. American media later reported, citing unnamed sources, that Russia had proposed including other Russian prisoners imprisoned in the West in exchange.