After more than nine months of imprisonment in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner was taken to the United Arab Emirates to complete a prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout.
RELATED: Life inside the Russian penal colony where Brittney Griner is serving nine years
Five months after Brittney Griner told President Joe Biden she was terrified she would spend the rest of her life behind bars in Russia, the WNBA star headed back to the United States. “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden announced from the White House Thursday.
Griner’s release followed months of what the White House called "painstaking, extraordinary" negotiations between the Biden administration and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime for the safe return of the two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time WNBA All-Star.
Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury, had been in custody in Russia since February when she was arrested at an airport near Moscow while returning to play for her Russian professional basketball team, UMMC Ekaterinburg. She was charged with possessing cannabis oil.
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#BrittneyGriner #Russia #AbuDhabi
The Merchant was seen busily chatting away on his phone on the plane … setting up deals? This was not a good trade.
Thats what the left does best.
Now there is a very dangerous man walking free, possibly going to be responsible for thousands of deaths.
But atleast you got a black lesbian woman in return
We traded a ungrateful WNBA player for a murderer. Nice job Joe
you would be awful to fight along side.. in the army they NEVER leave brothers or sisters behind! weak! as a patriot you defend every american equally.. you fail ! part time american at best. i bet you are with trump and trumps wish the destroy the constitution ?
@Michael Stapelberg you are emotionally idiotic. Joe talks about gun regulations and sends home a infamous criminal for a wnba athlete
@Michael Stapelberg she disrespects our country look it up. She should serve her 9 years then she can come back.
I’ve been searching this can someone explain why she was even bailed in the first place when she got a smuggling drugs charge, why even bother, was it unjust, she seems irrelevant a waste of a prisoner exchange
“The Kremlin gave the White House the choice of either Griner or Whelan or no one.”
Andrea Mitchell, NBC
I am happy anytime an American is returned home, happy for her, her friends and family. Let’s not forget she is guilty of breaking Russian law. It is against the law to possess, transport or sell any cannabis product in Russia. She brought it in country, they found it, she became a criminal and went to prison. One must be realistic, not emotional about all this. Russia was just enforcing laws already on the books. Russian law does not allow an exception for medically prescribed. When you travel it is on you to know the law and obey it or you too will find yourself in prison. The State Department can help you figure out each countries laws, just contact them.
. Lol O
. Lol O
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Dont forget she also hates the US
They ain’t wanna show griner n bout dap it up.. lol
She shook his hand! Why????
Shes a communist
Deal done free man
Why is there a cut at 13 seconds?
The Smile 😁
He going back in the streets and Brittany about to roll a fatty