US basketball player jailed for 9 years in Russia: Biden said - we will release Russian arms dealer in exchange for Britney, Russia should accept this deal

A Russian court has sentenced American basketball player Brittany Griner to nine years in prison and fined her one million rubles (about Rs 13 lakh). Brittany has been accused of drug trafficking. US President Joe Biden has rejected the court proceedings. He has asked Russia to accept the 'prisoner swap deal'.

What is Prisoner Swap Deal?

For the release of Griner, America had placed a deal with Russia for prisoner swapping, that is, to release another prisoner for one prisoner. The US offered to release the dangerous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Brittany.

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said – We have put forward a serious agreement with Russia. Russia should accept it. According to the news agency Reuters, Russia is also demanding the release of Vadim Krassikov in this prisoner deal. Vadim is imprisoned in a German prison for murder. However, Kirby said that the US has not thought about it. The US does not think that Vadim's release should be a matter of discussion.

When was Brittany arrested?

31-year-old American gold medalist Britney was detained at Moscow airport on February 17, 2022. She came to participate in the Russian Premier League in the off-season of the WNBA. A cartridge of oil extracted from drugs was found in his luggage at the airport. His arrest came just days before the Russia-Ukraine war. Upon the arrest, the Biden administration said that Brittany had been wrongfully imprisoned.

Also Read: Security Alert: IB alerts Delhi Police, fear of terrorist organization Lashkar and Jaish attack by August 15