Statements to the media are not appropriate for discussing such matters; only diplomatic channels are, FM Added Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Friday that “thunderous” public statements made by US authorities on the potential exchange of American individuals convicted of crimes in Russia are not necessary to discuss such an exchange. Moscow is ready to have a conversation about the matter, but only the right manner, he added.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Friday that “thunderous” public statements made by US authorities on the potential exchange of American individuals convicted of crimes in Russia are not necessary to discuss such an exchange. Moscow is ready to have a conversation about the matter, but only the right manner, he added.
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“There is a specialized channel that was agreed upon by the presidents [of Russia and the US]. Whatever public statements whoever makes, this channel remains relevant,” he said.
After a Russian court gave US basketball player Brittney Griner a nine-year jail sentence for drug crimes, Lavrov responded to comments made by many US authorities. After vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were discovered in the athlete’s luggage during a customs inspection, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his belief that the athlete had been “wrongfully detained” by Russian officials. Griner said that she accidentally packed a drug that is prohibited in the US but not in Russia.
In 2020, she and another US citizen, former Marine Paul Whelan, were found guilty of spying in Russia. Washington wants Moscow to release them both. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly offered to exchange them for Viktor Bout, a Russian businessman, who is serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted in 2012 on gun-running charges. According to US media, Lavrov made a counterproposal when he and Blinken discussed the issue on the phone last week.
Lavrov was speaking to journalists on Friday after attending an ASEAN summit in Cambodia, where the discussion could have been continued in person. John Kirby, a senior White House official, told MSNBC on Thursday that if Blinken “has an opportunity to ‘buttonhole’ Mr Lavrov, he will do so.”
The top Russian diplomat said no such discussion took place, joking that Kirby “probably forgot to pass on the instruction.”
We sat at the discussion table one person apart and I didn’t see any interest in catching me by anything on [Blinken’s] part. All my buttons are fine,” Lavrov remarked.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova joked that grabbing Lavrov by his tie or pants would be a better way to get his attention than Kirby’s choice of words.
the source used in the creation of the news: https://www.rt.com
