Day: November 18, 2022

Russia said on Friday it hoped to clinch a prisoner swap with the United States to return convicted Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” in an exchange that would likely include U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner.

Amid the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two, Russia and the United States are exploring a deal that could see imprisoned Americans including Griner return to the United States in exchange for Bout.

“I want to hope that the prospect not only remains but is being strengthened, and that the moment will come when we will get a concrete agreement,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

“The Americans are showing some external activity, we are working professionally through a special channel designed for this,” Ryabkov said. “Viktor Bout is among those who are being discussed, and we certainly count on a positive result.”

For the two former Cold War foes, now grappling with the gravest confrontation since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the exchange would mark one of the more extraordinary prisoner swaps in their history.

The distinctly upbeat remarks from Ryabkov, the foreign ministry’s point man for the Americas and arms control, contrast with previous statements from Moscow which have cautioned Washington against trying to engage in megaphone diplomacy over the prisoner swap.

The possible swap includes Griner, facing nine years behind bars in Russia after being convicted on drug charges, and Paul Whelan who is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia after being convicted of espionage charges that he denies.

Bout for Griner

Variously dubbed “the merchant of death” and “the sanctions buster” for his ability to get around arms embargoes, Bout was one of the world’s most wanted men prior to his 2008 arrest on multiple charges related to arms trafficking.

For almost two decades, Bout was one of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, selling weaponry to rogue states, rebel groups and murderous warlords in Africa, Asia and South America.

But in 2008, Bout was snared in an elaborate U.S. sting.

Bout was caught on camera agreeing to sell undercover U.S. agents posing as representatives of Colombia’s leftist FARC guerrillas 100 surface-to-air missiles, which they would use to kill U.S. troops. Shortly afterwards, he was arrested by Thai police.

Bout was tried on the charges related to FARC, which he denied, and in 2012 was convicted and sentenced by a court in Manhattan to 25 years in prison, the minimum sentence possible.

Ever since, the Russian state has been keen to get him back.

Griner has been transferred to a penal colony in the Mordovia region, southeast of Moscow, her lawyers said on Thursday, confirming a Reuters report.

At her trial, Griner – who played basketball for a Russian team in the U.S. off-season – said she had used cannabis for relief from sports injuries but had not meant to break the law. She told the court she made an honest mistake by packing the cartridges in her luggage.

Source: Voice of America

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates pledged an additional $7 billion in development funds to Africa. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said the money would be spent over the next four years to support African countries as they confront hunger, disease, gender inequality and poverty.

Making the announcement in Nairobi, Gates reaffirmed the foundation’s long-term commitment to Africa, saying the new commitment is in addition to existing funds that support organizations like the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“Constantly reducing maternal mortality, constantly reducing neonatal mortality, under-5 mortality, that’s really the metric that drives our foundation,” he said. “You know, we are very proud we are part of the movement with many other partners.”

Responding to a question asked by VOA at a press conference, Gates challenged young people in Africa to use technology to find solutions to the problems facing the continent.

“I believe that with innovation, over the next 10 years, most areas of emissions, we can come up with new approaches,” he said. “But we have to hurry. And then, even once we invent those approaches, we have to get them deployed.”

Lucianne Odiero, a medical student at the University of Nairobi and an aspiring entrepreneur, attended Gates’ town-hall meeting at the university. Odiero said she felt even more inspired after the meeting.

“We are surrounded by problems, sadly, especially being in Africa. So, it’s not hard to pick a problem and work on it. It’s not hard to be innovative. It’s just you identifying the problem, see what has already been done on it, think how it is affecting you personally or how it is affecting your neighbor and finding a way around it,” she said.

However, Nairobi-based economist and development expert Odhiambo Ramogi was more skeptical of Gates’ visit. He fears the Microsoft founder is paving the way for U.S. companies to make profits in Kenya.

“He came, he made a lecture at the University of Nairobi and was talking very flowery about genetically modified organisms, hardly a month after cabinet approves this. So it feels like his mission was not just aid-oriented but also business-oriented because GMOs would give some American companies very good business in the country,” Ramogi said.

During Gates’ first trip to Africa since COVID-19 pandemic began, he said he learned from partners about what programs and approaches are making an impact, the obstacles that remain, and how the foundation can better support future progress.

Source: Voice of America