Russia, US In Talks Over 'Merchant Of Death' For Griner Swap, Says Moscow

For the first time since the arrest of basketball star Brittney Griner on drug charges in February, Russia officially confirmed that negotiations were underway with Washington regarding a possible prisoner exchange.

“Instructions have been given to the authorities to conduct negotiations,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ivan Nechayev, said Thursday, The Washington Post first reported.

The United States repeatedly declared that it made a “substantial offer” for the release of Griner and three other Americans – including Paul Whelan, a former soldier – all detained in Russia.

According to US media, it would be a question of exchanging them for a notorious Russian arms trafficker detained in the United States, Viktor Bout, who goes by the nickname “merchant of death.”