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- May 11, 2013
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(The Guardian) Biden to meet today with families of Americans detained in Russia
Joe Biden will meet today with the relatives of WNBA star Brittney Griner and executive Paul Whelan as his administration seeks their release from detention in Russia, the White House announced.
At the meeting with Griner’s wife Cherelle Griner and Whelan’s sister Elizabeth Whelan, Biden will “discuss his continuing commitment to bringing their family members home safely,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said yesterday.
“As we have said before, we believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney and Paul under intolerable circumstances. And as you know, we have been directly engaged with the Russian government through appropriate channels,” Jean-Pierre said, noting that Washington had recently made a “significant offer” to secure their release. “We have followed up on that offer repeatedly, and we’ll continue to pursue every avenue to bring them home safely.”
According to CNN, that offer includes a prisoner swap that would release Viktor Bout, an arms dealer jailed in the United States.
Russia’s detention of Americans has been a thorn in the side of the White House for months, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to win their release. Here’s more from the Associated Press about the saga: Joe Biden plans to meet at the White House on Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia, senior administration officials told the Associated Press.
The separate meetings are to be the first in-person encounter between Biden and the families and are taking place amid sustained but so far unsuccessful efforts by the administration to secure the Americans’ release. The administration said in July that it had made a “substantial proposal” to get them home, but despite plans for the White House meetings, there is no sign that a breakthrough is imminent.
Biden plans to speak at the White House with Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and with the player’s agent in one meeting and with Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth, in the other.
Joe Biden will meet today with the relatives of WNBA star Brittney Griner and executive Paul Whelan as his administration seeks their release from detention in Russia, the White House announced.
At the meeting with Griner’s wife Cherelle Griner and Whelan’s sister Elizabeth Whelan, Biden will “discuss his continuing commitment to bringing their family members home safely,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said yesterday.
“As we have said before, we believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney and Paul under intolerable circumstances. And as you know, we have been directly engaged with the Russian government through appropriate channels,” Jean-Pierre said, noting that Washington had recently made a “significant offer” to secure their release. “We have followed up on that offer repeatedly, and we’ll continue to pursue every avenue to bring them home safely.”
According to CNN, that offer includes a prisoner swap that would release Viktor Bout, an arms dealer jailed in the United States.
Russia’s detention of Americans has been a thorn in the side of the White House for months, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to win their release. Here’s more from the Associated Press about the saga: Joe Biden plans to meet at the White House on Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia, senior administration officials told the Associated Press.
The separate meetings are to be the first in-person encounter between Biden and the families and are taking place amid sustained but so far unsuccessful efforts by the administration to secure the Americans’ release. The administration said in July that it had made a “substantial proposal” to get them home, but despite plans for the White House meetings, there is no sign that a breakthrough is imminent.
Biden plans to speak at the White House with Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and with the player’s agent in one meeting and with Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth, in the other.
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