Russia
Russia can swap American Paul Whelan and send him back to the United States, according to former minister and diplomat Bill Richardson. The politician takes part in a dialogue on the exchange of prisoners between the two countries.
“We are working intensively on the Paul Whelan case. This, I believe, is the highest priority for the US government and for organizations like mine,” TASS quoted the interlocutor as saying.
Progress is hampered by strained relations between Moscow and Washington. But even under such conditions, exchanges of prisoners took place.
Whelan was charged with espionage in 2018. A citizen of the United States, Canada, Ireland and Britain was sentenced in Russia to 16 years in a strict regime colony.
Late last year, The Washington Post published a forecast for Whelan’s swap for Russian Vadim Krasikov, who has been convicted in Germany of murder. Richardson questioned this possibility.
Previously, it was reported about the exchange of American national team basketball player Brittney Griner, convicted in the drug trafficking case, for Victor Bout.
