The crypto-businessman would like the option of an exchange with Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Vinnik’s lawyers have submitted new documents to the court, where they are trying to change the restraining order in their client’s case.
“Mr. Winnick should be allowed … to answer the charges against him and publicly advocate for his inclusion in the prisoner exchange,” wrote one attorney, David Rizk.
The lawyer added that a public campaign is important in the negotiations “in order to maximize the chances of such an exchange.”
The U.S. Justice Department has so far declined to comment. Alexander Vinnik was detained in Greece in 2017 at the request of the U.S. government.
He was first extradited to France, where he was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $119,433.
It was later returned to Greece, and in August 2022 it was taken to the United States. U.S. authorities accuse Winnick of supporting other people’s criminal activities through the BTC-e crypto trading platform by hiding and anonymizing transactions.
Earlier, Rizk did not rule out the possibility of considering his client for the next prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States.