• Alexander Darchiev: Prisoner swap talks taking place between Moscow and Washington.
• US citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, as well as arms trafficker Viktor Bout are discussed.
• Bout is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.

The director of the North American Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the names that are being discussed in the potential prisoner swap talks that are taking place between Moscow and Washington.

On Saturday, Alexander Darchiev stated in an interview with Russian state media TASS that US citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, both of whom are currently incarcerated in Russia, as well as convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States, were all involved in the conversation.

According to TASS, Darchiev was replying to a request for comment on US media claims that US authorities had forwarded a proposal to Moscow on swapping Bout for Griner and Whelan. Those reports stated that the US officials had proposed trading Bout for Griner and Whelan.

According to TASS, Darchiev confirmed that the names had been brought up in the bilateral discussions.

“This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and US citizens is being discussed through the channels defined by our presidents. These individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The details should be left to professionals, proceeding from the ‘do not harm’ principle,’” Darchiev said to TASS.

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