The families of two Americans, both detained in Russia, have asked top negotiator Bill Richardson to mediate, a company spokesperson confirmed. The families hope Richardson can ensure the return of basketball player Brittney Griner and alleged spy Paul Whelan.
Richardson has a lot of experience in freeing American citizens who are imprisoned in other countries. Since the 1990s, he has been working on the recovery of imprisoned American citizens from countries such as North Korea and Myanmar.
Richardson has also negotiated with Russia in recent years about the extradition of US Marine Trevor Reed, who was allowed to return to the US earlier this year through a prisoner exchange.
According to American media reports, Richardson would travel to Russia next week, but his spokesperson was able to tell the news agency AFP not confirm.
Biden has ‘pin-sharp focus’
President Joe Biden has a “sharp focus” on a solution to Griner’s case, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday. “We are working directly with the Russian government through the appropriate channels to quickly resolve not only its case, but also Paul Whelan’s.”
Griner was arrested earlier this year for drug possession, for which she has now pleaded guilty in a Moscow court. Paul Whelan was sentenced in Russia in 2020 to 16 years in prison for espionage.