Kremlin says Griner swap must be discussed without publicity

Brittney Griner listening to a verdict in a courtroom in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)

The Kremlin has said that it is open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner but strongly warned Washington against publicising the issue.

Griner, a two-time US Olympic champion and an eight-time all-star with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia since February 17 after police at Moscow’s airport said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.