Brittney Griner returned to the United States early Friday, nearly 10 months after the basketball star's arrest in Russia made her the most famous American imprisoned abroad and sparked a political firestorm.
Griner's status as a gay black woman, a prominent women's basketball player, and her imprisonment in a country where authorities are hostile to the LBGTQ community have heightened her concerns and drawn a lot of attention to the case. Russia's invasion after its seizure of Ukraine has further complicated the issue.
The deal announced Thursday that saw Griner traded for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout became a major target for President Joe Biden. But the United States has not been able to secure the freedom of another American, Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned for almost four years.
Biden's decision to release Bout, a Russian criminal once known as the "Merchant of Death," shows how quickly his administration feels about bringing Griner home, especially after his recent conviction. criminal charges for drug trafficking and transportation and punishment. company. province. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury basketball professional, was seen exiting a plane that landed Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.
"So glad Brittney is back on American soil. Welcome home BG!" tweeted Roger Carstens, the president's special representative for consumer affairs. The WNBA star, who also played professional soccer in Russia, was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February after Russian authorities said she was carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. The US State Department said Griner was "wrongfully detained" - a charge Russia denies. Griner pleaded guilty in July, but was given a trial, because pleading guilty in Russia's justice system does not automatically end a trial. He was sentenced to nine years. He admitted in court that he was in possession of the cans of cannabis oil, but said he had no criminal intent and had just amassed them accidentally. His defense team released a written statement that he was prescribed cannabis to treat the pain.
WNBA star Brittney Griner arrives at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, after being released from her prisoner exchange with Russia, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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WNBA star Brittney Griner arrives at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, after being released from her prisoner exchange with Russia, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Brittney Griner returned to the United States early Friday, nearly 10 months after the basketball star's arrest in Russia made her the highest-ranking American imprisoned abroad and sparked political storm.
Griner's status as a gay black woman, a prominent women's basketball player, and her imprisonment in a country where authorities are hostile to the LBGTQ community have heightened her concerns and drawn a lot of attention to the case. Russia's invasion after its seizure of Ukraine has further complicated the issue.
The deal announced Thursday that saw Griner traded for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout became a major target for President Joe Biden. But the United States has not been able to secure the freedom of another American, Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned for almost four years.
Biden's decision to release Bout, a Russian criminal once known as the "Merchant of Death," underscored how quickly his administration felt about bringing Griner home, especially after his recent conviction. criminal charges for drug trafficking and transportation and punishment. company. province. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury basketball professional, was seen exiting a plane that landed Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.
Britney Griner
Brittney Griner's departure from the basketball world
Comment box: Reaction to Brittney Griner's departure from Russia
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The Russian ambassador said that the exchange of prisoners in the US is still possible
"I'm glad Brittney is back on American soil. Welcome home to BG!" tweeted Roger Carstens, the president's special representative for consumer affairs.
The WNBA star, who also played professional soccer in Russia, was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February after Russian authorities said she was carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. The US State Department said Griner was "wrongfully detained" - a charge Russia denies.
Griner pleaded guilty in July, but was given a trial, because pleading guilty in Russia's justice system does not automatically end a trial. He was sentenced to nine years.
He admitted in court that he was in possession of the cans of cannabis oil, but said he had no criminal intent and had just amassed them accidentally. His defense team released a written statement that he was prescribed cannabis to treat the pain.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the change Thursday, saying in a statement carried by Russian media that the change took place in Abu Dhabi and Bout had flown home. Biden and Griner spoke by phone. US officials said he would be offered professional medical services and counseling. By freeing Bout, the United States freed a former Soviet Army soldier who was described by the Justice Department as one of the world's largest arms dealers. He was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States in 2010. Bout is serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons that US officials say will be used against Americans.
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