Last Updated on: 8th December 2022, 09:45 pm
Who is Brittney Griner? Biography, Wiki
Brittney Griner, a WNBA star, is free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer, according to a senior administration official.
Griner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February after Russian authorities said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
Brittney Griner Age
Her current age is 32 years.
WNBA Star Released From Russian Custody
WBNA star Griner has been released in a prisoner swap almost nine months after his arrest at a Moscow airport in Russia.
US officials said Griner was released in exchange for the US release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after months of talks between Washington and Moscow over the basketball star’s whereabouts.
A senior Biden administration official said Ms. Griner “smiled at everything” as she was discharged from an airport in the United Arab Emirates, where she was met by Ambassador Roger Carstens, the president’s special envoy for hostages.
According to the White House, President Joe Biden spoke to Ms. Griner after her release. Photos posted to the President’s official Twitter account show that Ms. Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, was present in the Oval Office, as was Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden wrote that he spoke to Griner “moments” before the photos were released. She is safe. She’s on an airplane. She’s back,” he said.
The 32-year-old Phoenix Mercury player has been the subject of lengthy and often public negotiations between the two countries after a court case exposed fractured ties amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Biden administration had called for the release of Griner and Whelan.
“I’m telling you I’m committed to getting her home and getting her home safely, along with others I can add,” Biden said of the Nov. 9 situation.
According to an official, the deal with Russia was finalized about a week ago. It came after the Biden administration made several proposals to release Griner and Whalen, all of which were rejected by Russia.
“We investigated a variety of different scenarios and they [Russian officials] were unwilling to negotiate in good faith for Paul’s release,” the official said.
