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Moscow, Dec 9 (IANS) Russian citizen Viktor Bout was exchanged for US basketball participant Brittney Griner on the Abu Dhabi airport, the Russian Overseas Ministry introduced.
“Washington categorically refused a dialogue on the inclusion of Bout within the change scheme. However, Russia continued to actively work to rescue our compatriot,” the Ministry stated in an announcement on Telegram on Thursday.
The US facet has additionally confirmed the completion of the prisoners swap, Xinhua information company reported.
Griner was detained in February 2022 when she arrived at a Moscow airport from New York, after vape cartridges containing hashish oil have been present in her baggage. In August, she was sentenced to 9 years in jail and fined a million rubles ($15,773) for drug smuggling.
On the request of Washington, Thai police arrested Bout in Bangkok in 2008 for promoting weapons to a US-designated overseas terrorist group. He was extradited to the US in 2010 and sentenced to 25 years behind bars with a tremendous of $15 million in 2012.
–IANS
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