Thread: Brittney Griner Released from Russian Detention1-for-1 Prisoner Swap

Washington — Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was held for months in Russian prisons on drug charges, was released Thursday in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, bringing an end to an ordeal that sparked intensive high-level negotiations between the U.S. and the Kremlin to secure her freedom.

"She's safe. She's on a plane. She's on her way home," President Biden said at the White House, announcing the exchange. "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. This is a day we've worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release."

CBS News was first to report the swap, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, citing a U.S. official. The exchange agreement negotiated with Moscow in recent weeks was given final approval by Mr. Biden within just the last week, according to sources familiar with the deal.

Five former U.S. officials told CBS News the agreement had been reached as of last Thursday.

The president said he spoke to Griner by phone from the Oval Office, where he was joined by Griner's wife Cherelle, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Per standard procedure for freed U.S. prisoners, Griner was expected to quickly undergo a medical evaluation.

Brittney Griner released by Russia in 1-for-1 prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout

Though I am not a fan, I'm glad she was released. She hates this country, maybe this will help her to realize and appreciate what she has here.

Originally Posted by fuego

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I agree. I don't know anything about Whelan's record, but I'd rather the trade would've been for him, seeing he's been incarcerated the longest, and a U.S. military serviceman. Still, I'm not unhappy about Brittney's release.

Originally Posted by FireBrand

There is no explanation for this other than realizing the Leftoids intended this to tick us off. This was a shot at the Right.

I don't think so. I think it is to appease the LGBTQ community, and garner more votes from black Americans seeing how they are losing more black voters everyday.

Originally Posted by John

Yes, it was done to appeal to homosexuals. The Marine in custody is okay with letting the girl go free but bewildered at the lack of effort on his behalf.

They could've gotten 2 for one had they tried harder. Russia wanted that man bad, they would've released Whelan and Griner to get him.

Originally Posted by njtom

Looks like we tried to get Mr. Whelan out but could not deliver what Putin wanted.

Russia refused to release Paul Whelan alongside Brittney Griner unless a former colonel from Russia's domestic spy organization currently in German custody was also released as part of any prisoner swap, US officials told CNN, even as the US offered up the names of several other Russian prisoners in US custody that they would be willing to trade.

The US was unable to deliver on the request for the ex-colonel, Vadim Krasikov, because he is serving out a life sentence for murder in Germany.

CNN first reported exclusively in August that the Russians had requested that Krasikov be released along with Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was serving a 25-year sentence in the US, in exchange for Whelan and Griner.

US officials made quiet inquiries to the Germans about whether they might be willing to include Krasikov in the trade, a senior German government source told CNN earlier this year. But ultimately, the US was not able to secure Krasikov's release. The German government was not willing to seriously consider including Krasikov –who assassinated a Georgian citizen in broad daylight in Berlin in 2019 – in a potential trade, the German source said.



Russia demanded that a spy held in Germany be freed in exchange for Paul Whelan | CNN Politics

I don't believe anything CNN reports or what this current administration says.