Biden meets relatives of Americans jailed in Russia – Macau Business

President Joe Biden met Friday with relatives of basketball star Brittney Griner and fellow US citizen Paul Whelan, who are both imprisoned in Russia, the White House said.

In separate Oval Office meetings, Biden conferred first with Whelans sister, Elizabeth Whelan, and then Cherelle Griner, the wife of the gold medal athlete.

There was no immediate word from the White House on how these sessions played out, but national security spokesman John Kirby earlier told reporters that discussions are ongoing to secure Griners release.

The president is not going to let up. Hes confident that this is going to remain at the forefront of his mind and his teams mind, Kirby said.

In August, Moscow said it was ready to discuss a prisoner swap for Griner, sparking hopes of a rapid resolution.

Kirby said the Biden administration had made what he called a serious proposal but they are not responding to our offer.

These two individuals ought to be home already. Period, he added.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February, shortly before Russias invasion of Ukraine, for possessing vape cartridges with a small amount of cannabis oil.

The 31-year-old, who was in Russia to play for the professional Yekaterinburg team during her off-season from the Phoenix Mercury, was charged with smuggling narcotics and was sentenced in early August to nine years in a penal colony.

Former US marine Whelan, 52, was arrested in December 2018 and accused by Russian security services of spying.

He was detained on a visit to Moscow to attend a wedding when he took a USB drive from an acquaintance, thinking it contained holiday photographs. He did not look at the contents of the drive, but his lawyer said it contained state secrets.

The former security official at a vehicle parts company who also has British, Canadian and Irish passports was sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges in June 2020.

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Biden meets relatives of Americans jailed in Russia - Macau Business