US makes 'substantial proposal' to Russia for Griner and Whelan's release, according to SecBlinken.
The Biden administration has offered a"substantial proposal" to the Kremlin in exchange for the release of two Americans the State Department considers wrongfully detained in Russia, Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
“In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for the first time since the war began," the secretary said."I plan to raise an issue that’s a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner who are wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home. We put a substantial proposal on the table ... to facilitate their release.
Earlier this month, Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges after being arrested on Feb. 17 and has been detained ever since. She faces a 10-year prison sentence in a judicial system that overwhelmingly results in convictions. She testified on Thursday, telling the court that she was not read her rights at the time of her arrest and that she was forced to sign documents without explanation of what they were.
"The sooner the better," Whelan's brother David said in an email statement."Paul has let our parents know that about 10 prisoners have left IK-17 to go and serve on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Hopefully, the Russian military sticks to volunteers and not press gangs."
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