CNN Exclusive: Russian officials requested adding convicted murderer to Griner/Whelan prisoner swap

(CNN)Russian government officials requested that a former colonel from the state's domestic spy agency who was convicted of murder in Germany terminal year be included in the US' proposed swap of a notorious artillery dealer Viktor Tour for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told CNN.

The Russians communicated the request to the US earlier this month through an informal backchannel used past the spy bureau, known every bit the FSB, that they wanted Vadim Krasikov released, the sources said. Krasikov was convicted in December of murdering a onetime Chechen fighter, Zelimkhan "Tornike" Khangoshvili, in Berlin'due south Kleiner Tiergarten in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison.

The request was seen as problematic for several reasons, the sources told CNN, among them that Krasikov remains in German language custody. As such, and because the asking was not communicated formally but rather through the FSB backchannel, the United states government did non view it every bit a legitimate counter to the US' offer which was kickoff revealed by CNN on Wed.

But underscoring how determined the Biden administration has been to get Griner and Whelan back to the U.s., U.s. officials did brand quiet inquiries to the Germans most whether they might be willing to include Krasikov in the trade, a senior German government source told CNN. A The states official characterized the outreach equally a condition bank check on Krasikov.

The conversations were never elevated to the top levels of the High german regime and including Krasikov in a potential merchandise has not been seriously considered, the German source said. Merely the previously unreported discussions reveal that Russian officials take at to the lowest degree somewhat engaged with the Usa' proposal.

While the asking was not fabricated through formal channels, the FSB has an expansive remit and is a core function of the Russian security apparatus. Russian President Vladimir Putin famously worked for its powerful predecessor, the KGB.

Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, told CNN subsequently this story was published that "holding two wrongfully detained Americans earnest for the release of a Russian assassin in a 3rd state's custody is non a serious counter-offer. It is a bad faith attempt to avoid the bargain on the table that Russia should take."

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby echoed Watson on Friday, calling Russia'south asking a "bad faith effort to avoid a very serious offer" during an interview with CNN's Jim Sciutto on "Erin Burnett OutFront." He added: "Nosotros urge Russian federation to take that offer seriously."

Pressed by Sciutto on whether this development signals negotiations are stalled, Kirby said he would not draw the current situation that manner.

"It's simply that they haven't been willing to faithfully consider or even seriously consider the offer that we put forward. I would not say stalled. ... Nosotros very much desire to see Brittney and Paul come up abode to their families where they belong. They're wrongfully detained at that place. And we're just going to keep at that piece of work," Kirby said.

Asked for comment, a State Department official told CNN that "In order to preserve the best opportunity for a successful upshot, we're not going to annotate publicly on whatsoever speculation." Secretary of Country Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the United states of america had put "a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago" to facilitate Griner and Whelan's release. He added that "our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal."

Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Fri virtually the proposed swap. They had a "frank and straight conversation" Blinken said.

"I pressed the Kremlin to accept the substantial proposal that we put forth on the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner," Blinken added.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov "strongly suggested" to Blinken that the The states should return to a way of "repose affairs" regarding a possible prisoner commutation "without speculative information stuffing."

It'southward unclear if Krasikov was discussed on the phone call.

Multiple sources told CNN that even if it is non Krasikov, the Russians will probable demand 2 prisoners be released in exchange for Griner and Whelan. Russian government officials have indicated publicly in recent weeks that they desire to see the release of Bout and Roman Seleznev, a convicted hacker currently serving a 27-year sentence in the US.

"I'm not certain that any boosted activity, especially in the public sphere, will assist a correct, balanced compromise and detect a basis to convalesce the fate of a lot of our compatriots such equally Viktor Tour, who has health bug, [or] such equally Seleznev, and many others," Deputy Russian Strange Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters earlier this calendar month.

Merely US officials believe Russia is but trying to buy fourth dimension by making unserious offers until Griner's trial is over.

Griner is on trial for allegedly entering Russian federation in Feb with cannabis oil in her luggage, something she said she uses for pain relief and that she packed in her numberless unintentionally. Whelan was convicted on espionage charges in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison house. The State Department has declared both of them wrongfully detained.

CNN'southward Jennifer Hansler and Sam Fossum contributed reporting.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/politics/griner-whelan-russia-murderer-request/index.html

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