Brittney Griner returns to the US after being released from Russian jail
It follows a 10 month ordeal for the US basketball player.
The US basketball star, Brittney Griner, has landed back in the United States after spending 10 months in a Russian jail.
The WNBA star was detained by Russian authorities was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport in February after vape cartridges containing 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of cannabis oil were found in her luggage. In August she was sentenced to nine years on drug charges after pleading guilty in a trial and was ordered to pay a one million rouble (£13,430) fine.
Griner’s freedom has been secured through a prisoner swap with a Russian arms trafficker called Viktor Bout aka ‘the Merchant of Death’. The Independent reports that the pair were swapped on a runway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The outlet also reports that Griner landed at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio at around 5.30 am Eastern Standard Time on Friday (9 December).
Roger Carstens, the US State Department’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, is among those celebrating Griner’s return tweeting on Friday: “So happy to have Brittney back on U.S. soil. Welcome home BG!”
Cher also joined in the celebrations online writing: “THANK GOD BRITTNEY’S FREE”
The US has sought to clarify that while the prisoner exchange happened on UAE soil, the US and Russia were the only parties negotiating. It comes after Saudi Arabia and the UAE released a statement taking credit for Griner’s release.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday (8 December) “There was no mediation involved.”
In July, Griner wrote an impassioned plea to US President Joe Biden to help her win her freedom. “I’m terrified I might be here forever,” she said adding, “I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”
There are questions now regarding the detained US Marine, Paul Whelan. He was detained four years ago and has told CNN: “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here”. As per CNN, Biden said on Thursday the US would “never give up” on Whelan.