One careless mistake landed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a Russian prison — and now the U.S has offered to trade her for another prisoner. The prisoner in question? The infamous Viktor Bout, a Soviet arms dealer who was once one of the world’s most wanted men for supplying groups like the Taliban with weapons, and for targeting American citizens.
Brittney Griner was caught carrying vape cartridges containing less than a gram of cannabis oil. She pleaded guilty, hoping that admitting culpability would win her a lighter sentence. This was in vain, however, as the merciless Russian court sentenced her to 9 years in prison, just 1 year short of a 10-year maximum.
There is no doubt that Ms. Griner’s misdemeanor is nothing in comparison to the crimes of Mr. Bout, a man who had made a name for himself as the “Merchant of Death.” President Biden has expressed support for Ms. Griner, and went so far as to make the trade offer. Russian officials have long wanted to free Mr. Bout, but no agreement has been made yet.
News of these negotiations were made public by Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken and has since sparked a number of debates across the country. Many worry that if the two Americans in Russia’s custody are essentially hostages, this trade will encourage Russia to take more Americans hostage.
In the discussion of hostage-swapping, ex-chief of C.I.A. staff Jeremy Bash said, “[w]e value our own citizens a thousand times more than we value the foreign criminal. Israel takes the same approach. They’d trade a thousand Hamas fighters for one I.D.F. soldier. We in the U.S. take the same attitude. We will do almost anything to save an American life.”
Still, other former officials believe a deal like this is too risky, given that one prisoner is considerably more dangerous than the other. John R. Bolton, who used to be a U.N ambassador and national security advisor tells The New York Times that “negotiations and exchanges with terrorists or with authoritarian governments” are too dangerous, “because then you’re just putting a price on the next American hostage.”
It is not clear why the Russians are so interested in bargaining for Bout’s freedom, but it’s likely the reason has something to do with his extensive links to military intelligence.
However, Russia appears to be taking its time to think on this request. Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov expressed that he will “pay attention to this request when time permits” as he has “a busy schedule of international contacts.”
Source : https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/us/politics/griner-bout-hostages-diplomacy.html
Brittney Griner was caught carrying vape cartridges containing less than a gram of cannabis oil. She pleaded guilty, hoping that admitting culpability would win her a lighter sentence. This was in vain, however, as the merciless Russian court sentenced her to 9 years in prison, just 1 year short of a 10-year maximum.
There is no doubt that Ms. Griner’s misdemeanor is nothing in comparison to the crimes of Mr. Bout, a man who had made a name for himself as the “Merchant of Death.” President Biden has expressed support for Ms. Griner, and went so far as to make the trade offer. Russian officials have long wanted to free Mr. Bout, but no agreement has been made yet.
News of these negotiations were made public by Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken and has since sparked a number of debates across the country. Many worry that if the two Americans in Russia’s custody are essentially hostages, this trade will encourage Russia to take more Americans hostage.
In the discussion of hostage-swapping, ex-chief of C.I.A. staff Jeremy Bash said, “[w]e value our own citizens a thousand times more than we value the foreign criminal. Israel takes the same approach. They’d trade a thousand Hamas fighters for one I.D.F. soldier. We in the U.S. take the same attitude. We will do almost anything to save an American life.”
Still, other former officials believe a deal like this is too risky, given that one prisoner is considerably more dangerous than the other. John R. Bolton, who used to be a U.N ambassador and national security advisor tells The New York Times that “negotiations and exchanges with terrorists or with authoritarian governments” are too dangerous, “because then you’re just putting a price on the next American hostage.”
It is not clear why the Russians are so interested in bargaining for Bout’s freedom, but it’s likely the reason has something to do with his extensive links to military intelligence.
However, Russia appears to be taking its time to think on this request. Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov expressed that he will “pay attention to this request when time permits” as he has “a busy schedule of international contacts.”
Source : https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/us/politics/griner-bout-hostages-diplomacy.html
