Former NBA star #DennisRodman announced plans to travel to Russia to help negotiate the release of WNBA champion #BrittneyGriner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges earlier this month

“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Dennis told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. “I’m trying to go this week.” The basketball star goes on to claim that he knows Putin “too well.”

There are no details on where or who Dennis “got permission” from to work on the case. But Dennis and the russian President may have a personal relationship. Rodman called #VladimirPutin “cool” following a trip to Moscow in 2014 that he attended at Putin’s request.

Russian officials confirmed on Aug. 11 they are undergoing negotiations with the U.S. government regarding a potential prisoner swap that could bring Brittney home. However no further details have been provided