Brittney Griner Is Free
According to multiple sources early Thursday morning, the nightmare is finally over for Brittney Griner. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time WNBA All-Star has been released from a Russian penal colony as part of a prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout. Griner is now free, following an eight-month-long battle in Moscow. President Joe Biden quickly confirmed the news on Twitter following initial reports, stating, "Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home."
Just a little over a month ago, all hope seemed lost. A Russian court upheld a nine-year-long sentencing at the end of October, rejecting her appeal after Griner was convicted of drug possession. Russian police originally reported that it found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Moscow had not responded positively toward any sort of lenient sentencing or prisoner exchange efforts made by the U.S. due to the heightened tensions abroad. Griner's imprisonment began just days before Russia sent troops to invade Ukraine.
At the time, Griner testified that she had no criminal intent, arguing that she was prescribed medicinal cannabis oil to treat pain. Her attorneys even presented written statements from her doctors that corroborated her claims. The basketball star was originally in Moscow during the WNBA off-season to play for the Russian Premier League. Her detention highlighted how little WNBA stars are paid to compete in the U.S., and why many athletes travel overseas to play for deep-pocketed teams such as Moscow's UMMC Ekaterinburg.
According to AP News, the U.S. previously offered to exchange Griner and Paul Whelan—an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage—for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in a Southern Illinois federal penitentiary. Russia had originally rejected the prisoner exchange, but reports alleged that the swap occurred as planned in Abu Dhabi, just without including the secured release of Paul Whelan as well.
Bout, once nicknamed the "Merchant of Death," is a former Soviet military officer who was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. on charges of conspiracy to acquire anti-aircraft missiles, kill Americans, and provide support to a terrorist organization, according to CNN. Moscow had long sought after his release since his sentencing back in 2012, which followed a major sting operation by the U.S. in Thailand. At the time, he was known as the most dangerous international arms trafficker in the world. According to Dan Hoffman, a former CIA officer who spoke with NPR about his time in Russia, Putin's exchange for Bout should be viewed as another chess move in his ongoing political battle with the U.S. "Every opportunity he gets, Vladimir Putin wants to show that he can go toe-to-toe with Russia's main enemy," he said. "It's a real good public relations move for him to show that he's taking care of his own."
Biden was with Vice President Kamala Harris and Griner's wife, Cherelle, when he spoke with the WNBA star this morning. Cherelle Griner was able to speak to Brittany earlier this month, through what she told CBS was "the most disturbing phone call I’d ever experienced." The WNBA star was worried about being abandoned in Moscow, where the nation was seemingly adamant at the time that she served her near-maximum sentencing. At the NBA championship ring presentation in October, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry shouted out Brittney Griner on what was her 32nd birthday. "We want to continue to let her name be known, and we pray" he said. The prayers have been answered. Griner is now free and on her way home.
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