Brittney Griner released in Russian prison swap
The US and Russia have swapped prisoners – US basketball player Brittney Griner who was being held in a Russian prison, and Viktor Bout, who had been held in an American prison for 12 years.
US president Joe Biden said Griner was safe and en route home.
“I’m glad to say Brittney’s in good spirits… she needs time and space to recover,” he said at the White House.
Viktor Bout – widely known as the “merchant of death” has arrived back in Moscow, Russia according to media reports.
“In the middle of the night they simply woke me up and said ‘Get your things together’ and that was it,” Bout said in brief remarks to a reporter from national television, after landing in Russia.
US basketball star arrested
The US basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possessing cannabis oil. Last month she was sent to a penal colony.
The US government had proposed a prisoner exchange in July and were aware Moscow had long wanted Bout to be released.
The swap involved two private places bringing the pair to Abu Dhabi airport from Moscow and Washington, and then flying them home.
Footage shows them crossing on the tarmac with their respective teams.
“The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
US denies any mediation in prisoner swap
Speaking at the Oval office, Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle said: “I’m just standing here overwhelmed with emotions.”
A joint Saudi-UAE statement says the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a leading role in mediation efforts, along with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
But the White House denied any mediation had been involved. “The only countries that negotiated this deal were the United States and Russia,” said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
