Dec 10, 2022 - Russia refused to release Paul Whelan alongside Brittney
Griner unless a former colonel from Russia's domestic spy organization
currently in German custody was also released as part of any prisoner swap,
US officials told CNN, even as the US offered up the names of several other
Russian prisoners in US custody that they would be willing to trade. The US
was unable to deliver on the request for the ex-colonel, Vadim Krasikov,
because he is serving out a life sentence for murder in Germany. #CNN #news
