On the morning of Thursday, December 8th, 2022, it was reported that Brittney Griner, WNBA star, has been released from imprisonment in Russia following a prisoner swap negotiated by the Biden administration. The exchange for Griner was Viktor Bout, renowned as a “Merchant of Death” for arms deals with terrorist organizations. While there were hopes that Paul Whelan would be included, a multinational citizen which includes U.S. citizenship, it appears that he was not released as part of this exchange.
President Biden said of Griner’s release today, “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances. Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along.”
Brittney Griner’s release became the focus of some LGBTQIA+ leaders and activists as a prominent LGBTQIA+ athlete playing in a top league of women’s sports. Griner was arrested in Russia on marijuana charges and sentenced to nine years of prison within the Russian Federation.
Read More:
CNN, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Jeremy Herb and MJ Lee, “WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian detention in prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer” (December 8, 2022).
The Guardian, “Biden hails release of Brittney Griner from Russian prison: ‘She’s safe, she’s on her way home’ – live” (December 8, 2022).
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