Paul Whelan not freed with Brittney Griner over jailed Russian assassin
Paul Whelan not freed with Brittney Griner over jailed Russian assassin
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December 9, 2022 3:57pm
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Ex-Marine Paul Whelan wasn’t freed with back-in-the-USA basketball star Brittney Griner because Russia demanded the release of a killer spy who’s imprisoned for life in Germany.
Negotiations to swap Russian “Merchant of Death” arms dealer Viktor Bout for both Griner and Whelan broke down over Russian demands that convicted assassin Vadim Krasikov be included in the deal, according to multiple reports.
Russia was willing to trade Griner for Bout because it considers both of them criminals, the New York Times said Friday, citing unidentified US officials.
But Russia claims that Whelan is an American agent and insisted that he would only be exchanged for a Russian counterpart or someone of similar stature, the Times said.
The US — which says the allegations against Whelan are bogus — does not have any Russian spies in custody and Russia floated Krasikov’s name earlier this year, CNN reported in July.
