Brittney Griner Released from Russian Custody
Convicted and Sentenced in 2022
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was released from Russian custody on Thursday, December 8, 2022.
Griner had been detained in Russia since February 17, charged with smuggling drugs into the country.
She was convicted and sentenced to nine years in jail in August, a verdict that was widely condemned by the U.S. government and human rights groups.
Negotiated Prisoner Swap Involves Merchant of Death
Griner's release was negotiated by the Biden administration and involved a prisoner swap with Russia.
In exchange for Griner, the U.S. released Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death."
Bout was serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. on charges of conspiracy to kill Americans and providing material support to a terrorist organization.
Return to the U.S.
Griner arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday evening, where she was greeted by President Biden and her wife, Cherelle Griner.
Biden said Griner's release was "a testament to perseverance and unyielding diplomacy."
Griner thanked Biden for his efforts to secure her release and said she was "overwhelmed with emotions."
Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
Griner's release is a significant diplomatic victory for the Biden administration, which has been working to secure her release since her arrest in February.
It also highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, which have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
The Biden administration has said that it will continue to work to secure the release of other Americans who are detained in Russia.
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