'This exchange shows that diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington are still alive'

US basketball player Brittney Griner is seen on a plane ahead of departing for the United States Credit: FSB/TASS/Sipa USA

American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was convicted in Russia on charges of drug smuggling, was exchanged for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who in 2012 was given a 25-year prison sentence by a US court on multiple charges related to his arms-dealing career. We discussed this latest news with with Dr. Leonid Petrov, a researcher at the Australian National University in Canberra. This podcast is available in Russian only.

---

Tune in for SBS Russian program on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at noon.

Follow us on Facebook or sign up to our podcasts here.