WNBA star Brittney Griner was launched from a Russian chastening nest on Thursday after almost a year in custody. The United States worked out a one-for-one detainee swap including Griner and founded guilty Russian arms dealership Viktor Bout.
According to CBS News, the United States and Russia had actually consented to the swap a week prior to her release and the exchange happened in the United Arab Emirates after President Biden offered his last approval for the swap.
On Thursday early morning, the White House validated Griner’s security and published a video of President Biden talking to Griner on the phone. Biden stated that he was “pleased to be able to state Brittney remains in great spirits,” and she’s presently flying house to the United States.
Griner was apprehended on Feb. 17, 2022 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow when the Russian Federal Customs Service found vape cartridges consisting of cannabis concentrate hashish oil in her travel luggage. In October, the Phoenix Mercury star was sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail.
Griner sent an appeal in an effort to get her sentence decreased in October, which was rejected. Last month, Griner was relocated to a chastening nest in the Mordovia area of Russia.
Following Griner’s release, the sports world was pleased to become aware of Griner’s safe go back to the United States. Here’s how Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, WNBA legend Sue Bird, and others responded to the news.
