A spokesperson for Vladimir Putin has spoken out about Brittney Griner's detainment and says she is not na hostage. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A day after Brittney Griner was<a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/breaking-brittney-griner-found-guilty-of-attempted-drug-smuggling-sentenced-to-nine-years/"> sentenced to nine years by a Russian court</a> for a drug offense, they are ready to discuss a prisoner swap, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-ready-discuss-prisoner-swap-with-us-lavrov-says-2022-08-05/">reports</a>.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">On Friday, Russia stated they were ready to proceed with talks about a prisoner swap. Initially, President Biden and Putin agreed on a &#8220;diplomatic channel&#8221; that would be used to discuss details.</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">We are ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that was agreed upon by presidents Putin and Biden,&#8221; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Cambodia.</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lavrov continued: </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">If the Americans decide to once again resort to public diplomacy &#8230; that is their business and I would even say that it is their problem.</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Russian authorities reiterated that they are only interested in discussing a prisoner swap in private.</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Americans have already made that mistake, suddenly deciding to use megaphone diplomacy to resolve these issues,&#8221; spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Biden told White House reporters he&#8217;s &#8220;hopeful&#8221; and &#8220;we&#8217;re working hard&#8221; to get Brittney Griner back home.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Brittney Griner&#8217;s Conviction</span></h2>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">A Russian court found Brittney Griner guilty of attempted drug smuggling and possession on Thursday. </span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">According to </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">CNN, </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">the guilty verdict says Brittney </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/04/europe/brittney-griner-trial/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">had criminal intent</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> when she tried to enter the country with less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Before the conviction, Russian prosecutors</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/russian-prosecutors-ask-for-9-5-year-sentence-for-brittney-griner-in-closing-arguments-for-weed-vape-trial/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> asked the court</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> to consider giving the WNBA star 9.5 years in their closing. Shortly after news of the verdict broke, Brittney’s lawyers confirmed the Russian court obliged the prosecutors’ request. As a result, she was </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/08/04/world/brittney-griner-trial-verdict-russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">sentenced to nine years</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> in a penal colony, per </span><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The New York Times. </span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Additionally, the judge fined Brittney about $16,300–one million rubles.</span></p>
<p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Brittney apologized and stated in part:</span></p>
<blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here</span></p></blockquote>
<p>Roomies, what do you think of this?</p>
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