The Russian government reportedly requested that Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel in the country’s spy business, be added to the U.S. prisoner exchange for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, according to CNN.
Earlier this month, Russian officials communicated their request to add Krasikov to the prisoner swap, in addition to Viktor Bout (a convicted arms dealer), by way of an unofficial backchannel used by the Federal Security Service in Russia known as FSB. In December, Krasikov was sentenced to life in prison after German officials convicted him of murdering former Chechen fighter Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili at a Berlin park in 2019.
However, the latest request involving Krasikov was deemed “problematic” because the former colonel remains in German custody and Russia’s request to the United States was not made formally. As a result of Russia using a backchannel, the U.S. did not observe it as a permissible counter to its original offer that was reported on Wednesday.
