Griner's release marks a stunning turn of events from last month, when she began serving a nine-year sentence at a Russian penal colony more than 200 miles east of Moscow.ĭuring her trial in July, Griner pleaded guilty but said she had no criminal intent. insists it does not have any Russian spies in its custody, and thus no one to trade to meet the Kremlin's demand. People familiar with the negotiations for his release say the Russians refused to release Whelan without getting a Russian spy in return. Whelan is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being accused of spying, which the U.S. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower 12, 2020, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast.Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit This report was featured in the Thursday, Nov. "Because all you need is just some idiot from the Soviet army or the Russian army to say, 'Well, I'm going to get this American and do something stupid' to really cause a major international incident - more so than already." "I'm sure they've been told to treat me at least decently and to make sure nothing does happen to me," he said. Two inmates, he believes, are acting as "minders," assigned to watch over him. In the meantime, Whelan doesn't feel unsafe at the camp. I don't think this is a situation they want going longer than it needs to." "I think it's a bit of an embarrassment for the Russian government because they've by now figured out that they've made a mistake. "I don't think I'll be here that long - the governments will work it out quickly," Whelan said. But some experts have suggested that Yaroshenko might be more possible.ĭespite Russian officials hinting at a swap though, according to Whelan's family, no negotiations are underway. will release Bout, perhaps the world's most famous arms dealer, who was the basis of the character for the Nicholas Cage film 'Lord of War'. government to exchange him - an American tourist taken hostage - for two serious criminals. Whelan said he understands it's hard for the U.S. "They don't like the fact that Russian citizens can be arrested in third-party countries, extradited to America and then have to serve time in American prisons," he said. law enforcement, which in recent years has aggressively targeted Russian criminals overseas and extradited them back to the U.S., even for crimes largely committed abroad. He also said he believes Russia hoped to send a message to discourage U.S. "But I think this was partly sanctions retaliation." "I don't know why my name was chosen," Whelan said. Whelan said he didn't know why he specifically was targeted but said he believed that it could be linked to his work for BorgWarner and its business with KamAZ, a truck manufacturer part-owned by the Russian state defense conglomerate, Rostec, which was sanctioned by the U.S. "The night I was arrested, they asked me if I knew who those two people were," Whelan said. Whelan said FSB officers immediately mentioned both men to him and that it was soon made clear Russia hoped for a trade. officials have said they believe Russia seized Whelan as a bargaining chip to swap for Russians imprisoned in the United States - in particular, two men: Viktor Bout, an arms dealer jailed for 25 years on terrorism charges, and Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot sentenced to 20 years for drug smuggling. Russia has denied Whelan's charges are fabricated, but publicly Russian officials have repeatedly floated the idea of a possible exchange.
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