Ex-Russian envoy to US says Biden wants Brittney Griner freed for midterm boost

[mystery-ak]

 Ex-Russian envoy to US says Biden wants Brittney Griner freed for midterm boost
By Snejana Farberov   
October 18, 2022 10:22am

A former Russian ambassador to Washington has claimed that President Biden is desperate to secure Brittney Griner’s release to get a boost in next month’s midterm elections — but the WNBA star’s plight is not a priority for the Kremlin.

“In this tense situation, the way I see it, [Biden] thinks first and foremost about the upcoming midterm elections, which is why he keeps bringing up the need to return the basketball player who was arrested for delivering drugs,” said Yuri Ushakov during an interview that aired Sunday on the state-run Rossiya-1 channel, according to TASS.

“But this is not the most important issue that concerns us,” he added.

Ushakov served as Russia’s ambassador to the US from 1998 until 2008. Since 2012, he has been an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin on foreign policy issues.

Ushakov’s comments about Griner came ahead of her Oct. 25 appeal hearing, during which the two-time Olympic champion will attempt to have her nine-year sentence for drug possession thrown out.

more
https://nypost.com/2022/10/18/putins-aide-says-biden-wants-griner-freed-before-midterms/

[Kamaji]

So, what is the asking price?

[GtHawk]

So, what is the asking price?

Too damn much for too little return. I find it quite amusing that the foreign policy and diplomacy expert Brandon insults leaders and nations and then expects them to do him a favor to influence an election. Again didn't these scumbag democrats impeach Trump for not actually doing the same thing?

[Kamaji]

Too damn much for too little return. I find it quite amusing that the foreign policy and diplomacy expert Brandon insults leaders and nations and then expects them to do him a favor to influence an election. Again didn't these scumbag democrats impeach Trump for not actually doing the same thing?

Of course it'll be too much, at least for what the taxpayers get in exchange.

[Free Vulcan]

Americans are greatly suffering, but Pull-My-Finger Joe wants a PR stunt to give the Dems some kind of last minute voting bump.

Let them eat cake.

[Lando Lincoln]

Biden has zero leverage with the Putin. Perhaps less than zero. But, he will disregard the cost and offer to pay. Then, if accepted, he will strut his tough guy bully strut.

[Kamaji]

Biden has zero leverage with the Putin. Perhaps less than zero. But, he will disregard the cost and offer to pay. Then, if accepted, he will strut his tough guy bully strut.

Most likely.

[jafo2010]

I say Putin should do nothing.  Let her serve her sentence for violating their laws.  It was NOT her first trip to Russia.  She knew their laws and she violated them.  In their eyes, she is a criminal.  She is no innocent, and does not have the ability to declare if I only knew.  The laws in Russia are harsh on drugs.  She ignored it all, and now she must pay for her crimes.