Brittney Griner Freed After A Prisoner Exchange
Brittney Griner, the US basketball star, is finally free.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Griner was originally arrested in Moscow in February after authorities found cannabis oil in her luggage.
She was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony and a fine of a million rubles – approximately $16,300. According to The New York Times, the queer athlete’s defense described the verdict as “absolutely unreasonable.”
After months of negotiation, the US athlete is heading home. President Joe Biden struck a deal with Russia to exchange her for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to Gay Times.
Biden has since said that Griner is safe and on a plane home from the exchange point, the United Arab Emirates. “I’m glad to say Brittney’s in good spirits… she needs time and space to recover,” he said at the White House.
Speaking earlier this year, Antony Blinken said the White House had struck a deal with the Kremlin to secure Griner’s release. “There was a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” Blinken said. “And I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope, move us toward a resolution.”
The deal was also set to see the release of Paul Whelan, a former US Marine who has been detained in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges. However, his release has not been confirmed.
Since then, authorities have been concerned for Griner’s welfare, especially when it was confirmed in November that the Olympic gold medalist had been send to a penal colony. Russian penal colonies are known to be extremely harsh and worse than the Moscow detention center Griner was held in for the first few months of her imprisonment.
Griner’s wife, Cherelle, has praised the efforts of the Biden administration in securing the release. “I’m just standing here overwhelmed with emotions.”
As part of the exchange, one of the world’s most wanted men was released back to Russia. Viktor Bout has been dubbed the “merchant of death” for his arms dealing to warlords and rogue governments around the world since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed his swap with Griner has taken place at Abu Dhabi airport, with Bout being flown to Vnukovo airport near Moscow.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Russian Court Rejects Brittney Griner's Appeal
WNBA Star Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years For Drug-Smuggling
Biden Offers Russian Arms Dealer In Exchange For Detained WNBA Star Brittney Griner
Russia Extends Detainment Of Out WNBA Star Brittney Griner
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