Brittney Griner lands in the US after high-profile Russia prisoner swap
US basketball star Brittney Griner has arrived back in the US after being freed in a prison swap with Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout.
Griner was detained on February 17 in Moscow for carrying vape cartridges, which Russian authorities claimed contained cannabis oil, and in August she was sentenced to nine years in prison. She had been transferred to a penal colony after a failed appeal.
On Thursday, the two-time Olympic gold medallist was released as part of a high-level prisoner swap involving the Russian criminal once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death”.
The plane carrying her touched down at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas on Friday and Griner was later seen disembarking the aircraft.
US special presidential envoy, Roger Carstens, said: "So happy to have Brittney back on US soil. Welcome home BG!"
The swap took place at the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates, Russian news agencies reported.
After securing her release, Joe Biden said the basketball player had been held under “intolerable circumstances" and that Griner “represents the best of America”.
At the time of her arrest, Ms Griner was on her way to Ekaterinburg, east of Moscow, to rejoin her club for the playoffs after spending time in the US.
Although she was detained by authorities for carrying cartridges containing cannabis oil, the player said she had a prescription in the US for medical marijuana to relieve the pain from chronic injuries.
“Over the last nine months you have all been so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life,” Griner’s wife, Cherelle Watson told reporters.
“Today I am standing here overwhelmed with emotion but the most important one I have right now is sincere gratitude for Joe Biden and his administration.”
Despite agreeing the release of the high-profile basketball player, the US was not able to negotiate for former marine, Paul Whelan to be brought home.
Mr Whelan was convicted of supposed espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years following his arrest in Moscow in 2018. He denies the charges and the US has described them as “false”.
Mr Biden said the US would continue to work to free the former marine, who the President said Russia was treating differently.
"Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up," he said.
