Brittany Giner is free and currently flying back to the United States.
The 6-9 WNBA and Olympic star center, who had been held for months in Russian prisons on drug charges, has been released in a one for one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home,” President Biden said in a tweet.
CBS News was first to report the swap, which took place in the United Arab Emirates,after it was confirmed by a US official. The one on one exchange negotiatied with Moscow in recent weeks and
was given final approval by the President within the last week.
White House official said the president spoke to Griner by phone from the Oval Office, where he was joined by Griner’s wife Charelle, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Griner was
expected to go through a medical evaluation..
Biden dismissed “the show trail on Russia” that landed her in prison and said “she didn’t ask for any special treatment.”
Bout will be freed and returned to Russia after Biden signed the commutation order cutting short Bout’s 24 year sentence.
The one sad and disappointing thing is that while Griner received her freedom, retired Marine Paul Whelan was not included in the deal. Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for over foir years. He was convicted on espionage chargs that the
U.S. called false and officials attempt to arrange a two for one swap.
Griner was detained at a Moscow airport and later pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the discovery of cannabis-dervedoil cartridges in her luggage. She was found builty of attempting to smuggle drugs into Russia. Given the fact Grinner was a black lesbian woman, there was serious concern for her health and safetty after she was transfered to a Russian penal colony known for subjecting detainees to harsh treatment. She had the luxury of celebrity status and gaining support from several groups, including celebrities and WNBA and women’s coaches and plalers everywhere, not to menton her wife who constantly fought to keep her name ut there in public.
After five months of diplomacy and swap offers– including sending two Russian prisoners home for Griner and Whelman-the two countries settled on a one on one swap.
Whelan, who once worked as a corporate security contractor, was in Moscow for a friend’s wedding when he was detained at a hotel in Dec. 2018. He was later sentenced to 16 years in prison. This month marks the fourth anniversary of Whelan’s time in Russian custody.
Bout, who most recently was held in an Illinois prision, was arrestred by the DEA in Thailand in 2008 in a string operation. He was convicted of conspirring to kill Americans and began his senteence a decade ago.
