Brittney Griner launched from Russia in swap for ‘Service provider of Demise’ arms supplier Viktor Bout

Dec. 8 (UPI) — President Joe Biden mentioned Thursday that WNBA star and Olympian Brittney Griner has been launched from a Russian jail in a one-for-one prisoner change.

In remarks from the Roosevelt Room of the White Home, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, Biden mentioned change befell within the United Arab Emirates after months of negotiations.

“This can be a day we labored towards for a very long time,” Biden mentioned. “We by no means stopped pushing for her launch. It took painstakingly intense negotiations.”

Whereas Biden didn’t point out the opposite individual concerned within the commerce, Russia’s international ministry mentioned in a statement that Griner was launched in change for the U.S. launch of worldwide arms supplier Viktor Bout.

Brittney Griner, the 32-year-old heart for the Phoenix Mercury, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after arriving within the nation with hashish oil in her baggage. She was discovered responsible of smuggling narcotics into Russia in August and sentenced to 9 years in jail.

Biden mentioned Brittney Griner was unjustly detained in Russia and “held below insupportable circumstances.”

“These previous few months have been hell for Brittney and for Cherelle and her total household and all teammates again house,” Biden mentioned. “Individuals throughout the nation have realized about Brittney’s story, advocated for her launch, stood together with her all through this horrible ordeal and I do know that and I do know that help meant rather a lot to her household.”

Cherelle Griner mentioned she was “overwhelmed” with feelings in regards to the launch information. She was on the White Home when Biden mentioned Brittney Griner was on a aircraft coming again to america.

“During the last 9 months, you all have been aware about one of many darkest moments of my life,” Cherelle Griner mentioned. “In the present day, I am simply standing right here overwhelmed with feelings, however a very powerful emotion that I’ve proper now’s simply the honest gratitude for President Biden and his total administration. He simply talked about this work just isn’t simple and it has not been.”

Brittney Griner’s arrest got here shortly earlier than the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Since then, sports activities figures and political leaders have continued their stress marketing campaign on the White Home to barter her return.

In its assertion, the Russian international ministry mentioned america “categorically refused to interact in dialogue” on the inclusion of Bout within the prisoner change.

“Nonetheless, the Russian Federation continued to actively work to rescue our compatriot,” the ministry mentioned.

Bout, generally known as the “Service provider of Demise,” was serving a 25-year prison sentence for promoting weapons that U.S. prosecutors mentioned have been meant for use to kill People.

The one-for-one change implies that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been in Russian custody since 2018, was not a part of the deal.

Whelan was arrested at a Moscow lodge in December 2018 and convicted of espionage costs. The previous safety govt has denied the costs. He’s serving a 16-year arduous labor sentence at a Mordovia jail camp.

Biden accused Russia of treating the Whelan case in another way from Brittney Griner’s however he mentioned negotiations for his launch stay ongoing.

“We’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who has been unjustly detained in Russia for years,” Biden mentioned Thursday. “This was not a alternative of which American to deliver house. … Whereas we’ve not succeeded in securing Paul’s launch, we’re not giving up. We are going to by no means quit.

“We stay in shut contact with Paul’s household, the Whelan household, and my ideas and prayers are with them in the present day. They should have such combined feelings in the present day and we’ll preserve negotiating in good religion for Paul’s launch.”

Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, mentioned in a statement that he can “actually solely think about” the enjoyment Brittney Griner will expertise being reunited together with her household “in time for the vacations,” whereas including it was troublesome for his household to course of that his brother has nonetheless not been launched.

“That early warning meant that our household has been capable of mentally put together for what’s now a public disappointment for us. And disaster for Paul,” he mentioned. “I have no idea if he’s conscious but, though he will certainly be taught from Russian media.”

Cherelle Griner voiced her dedication and help for Whelan’s launch, as nicely.

“My household is complete, however as you’re conscious, there’s so many different households who will not be complete,” she mentioned. “B.G. just isn’t right here to say this, however I’ll gladly communicate on her behalf and say that B.G. and I’ll stay dedicated to the work of getting each American house, together with Paul, whose household is in our hearts in the present day as we rejoice B.G. house.

“We do perceive that there are nonetheless folks on the market who’re enduring what I’ve endured the final 9 months of lacking tremendously their beloved one.”