WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed from a Russian penal colony after the Biden administration struck a deal with the Kremlin for a 1-for-1 prisoner swap, exchanging her for arms dealer ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout.
Russia frees WNBA star Brittney Griner in 1-for-1 prisoner swap for notorious arms dealer
Phoenix Mercury WNBA star Brittney Griner is finally on her way home to the United States after almost 10 months in detention in Russia after being imprisoned for cannabis oil possession at a Moscow airport.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is now in US custody after the Biden White House was able to reach a deal with the Kremlin on the terms for a prisoner swap – a one-for-one exchange agreement negotiated with Moscow in recent weeks – according to CBS.
In exchange for Griner, the US released international arms dealer Viktor Bout. The swap took place on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates.
The deal was given final approval by President Biden within just the last week, according to sources familiar with the agreement.
Who is Viktor Bout?
Viktor Bout is a Russian national who is an international arms dealer. He earned the nickname “The Merchant of Death” for being one of the world’s most illicit arms dealers. The character portrayed by Nicholas Cage in the 2005 movie Lord of War was loosely based on Bout, NBC reported.
In 2008, the US government set up an elaborate operation to capture and prosecute Bout.
Deal did not include American Paul Whelan
Earlier negotiations by the United States with Russia were aimed at releasing both Brittney Griner and retired US Marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted on espionage charges that the US has called false. Whelan has been in Russian custody for almost four years.
However, the “Griner-for-Bout” exchange leaves Whelan imprisoned in Russia.
“We’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan,” President Biden said on Thursday. “We will never give up” on securing his release.
Biden speaks to Griner
President Joe Biden announced in a tweet that he had spoken to Brittney Griner.
“Moments ago, I spoke to Brittney Griner,” Biden wrote on Twitter. “She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home.”
Griner’s 10-month ordeal
WNBA star Brittney Griner, 32, entered Russia in February to play with the Russian Premier League during the WNBA offseason. She was arrested for bringing cannabis oil through a Moscow airport. Griner insisted she had mistakenly forgotten to unpack vaping cartridges that contained cannabis oil.
In May, the US State Department declared Griner as wrongfully detained.
In August, Griner was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison.
In November, Griner was transferred to a Russian forced labor camp, Fox reported. Reportedly, inmates at the Russian penal colony toil in sweatshop conditions where they sew for 12 hours or more per day, the Daily Mail reported.
