Brittney Griner

US President Joe Biden's administration secured basketball player Brittney Griner's release in a prisoner swap with Russia. In exchange of her release, ...

Though in a bloody business, the 55-year-old was a vegetarian and classical music fan who is said to speak six languages. authorities tricked him into leaving Russia for what he thought was a meeting over a business deal to ship what prosecutors described as “a breathtaking arsenal of weapons — including hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, machine guns and sniper rifles — 10 million rounds of ammunition and five tons of plastic explosives.” He was taken into custody at a Bangkok luxury hotel after conversations with the Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation's informants who posed as officials of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC. Prosecutors said he was ready to sell up to $20 million in weapons, including surface-to-air missiles to shoot down U.S. Bout was convicted in 2011 on terrorism charges. and Russia announced that Griner had been exchanged for Bout, and that he was headed home. "She has been dubbed a 'political pawn' amid speculation by Russian media that she could be swapped with Russian arms trader, Viktor Bout, nicknamed The Merchant of Death. The Biden administration has secured Brittney's release in a prisoner swap. He gained fame supposedly by supplying weapons for civil wars in South America, the Middle East and Africa. She was sentenced to nine years in jail after a trial. Ekaterinburg also claimed the title in 2018, 2019, and 2021," notes The Britannica Encyclopaedia. "After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be in the arms of her loved ones... She is on a plane.

The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an ...

Such a public overture drew a chiding rebuke from the Russians, who said they preferred to resolve such cases in private, and carried the risk of weakening the US government’s negotiating hand for this and future deals by making the administration appear too desperate. In an extraordinary move during otherwise secret negotiations, Blinken revealed publicly in July that the US had made a “substantial proposal” to Russia for Griner and Whelan. Griner was arrested at the Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February when customs officials said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. The swap was confirmed by US officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations who were not authorized to publicly discuss the deal before a White House announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. Her case not only brought unprecedented publicity to the dozens of Americans wrongfully detained by foreign governments, but it also emerged as a major inflection point in US-Russia diplomacy at a time of deteriorating relations prompted by Moscow’s war against The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia.

The Russian foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, a former arms dealer. The swap occurred at the Abu Dhabi airport in the ...

She was sentenced on August 4 to nine years in a penal colony on charges of possessing and smuggling drugs. She is on her way home,” Biden said in a tweet. Griner, 32, a star of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on February 17.

Brittney Griner was released in exchange for the Russian arms dealer "Merchant of Death."

For over two decades, Viktor Bout was one of the most infamous arms traffickers in the world, supplying weapons to violent warlords and rebel groups in [South America](/topic/south-america), [Africa](/topic/africa)and [Asia](/topic/asia). This was especially clear given that her criminal case had just ended and she had been sent to a penal colony. After entering a guilty plea in July, she eventually admitted to having the canisters in court.

Those who have who have worked with Mercury center Brittney Griner throughout her basketball career expressed relief and gratitude that she is headed home ...

"Your actions kept BG's name top of mind and her humanity in focus. Our prayers remain with her and her family as they recover and heal together." But again, this came down to the leadership of our government and our State Department, and they got this done and I'm so grateful to them. ... That doesn't happen in every industry, but it happened here." "... [Brianna Turner](https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/_/id/3142086/brianna-turner): "BG is so much more than a athlete. "The emotions for our organization, just like for our fans and so many across the world, are those of joyous celebration, deep gratitude, grief for the time lost, and sincere hope for all families still awaiting the return of a loved one." The primary concern is making sure her mental health is progressing and she's able to recover from the past 294 days. "I cried, and I'm a girl from Philly. and then, honestly, I cried," Staley said on ESPN's "First Take." The Mercury won the WNBA title in 2014 with Brondello at the helm and Griner, their No. "It has been a terrible ordeal for BG, but thankful for President Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris and everyone that has helped get her home.

Griner was a key part of the Mercury team that won the 2014 WNBA championship, won a gold medal with the US team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has been a ...

The combination of skills has earned Griner six WNBA All-Star Game appearances. Griner blocked more shots than eight teams as a WNBA rookie and has kept swatting shots throughout her nine-year pro career. She has five more in WNBA All-Star Games.

Washington and Moscow have negotiated the release of 32-year-old Brittney Griner from a Russian prison in return for notorious weapons dealer Victor Bout.

[Phoenix Mercury](/topic/phoenix-mercury)of the WNBA. [US News](/news/international/us), [UK News](/news/international/uk), [Canada News](/news/international/canada), International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) [Reliance, Ashok Leyland in Talks for Engines Running on H2](/epaper/delhicapital/2022/dec/08/et-front/reliance-ashok-leyland-in-talks-for-enginesrunning-on-h2/articleshow/96067063.cms)

This is a significant moment for President Joe Biden, who's been under public pressure to bring Brittney Griner home, and for Griner's wife Cherelle, ...

"The other side always gets a strong vote," US Hostage envoy Roger Carstens recently said. The official said the administration was told it could either bring Griner home - or no-one. It exchanged him for a Russian pilot sentenced to cocaine trafficking charges in the US, demonstrating that the two countries could keep open a channel separate from their geopolitical tensions. Her case tells us a lot about America's approach to hostage diplomacy - and the limits of that strategy. He has been convicted of espionage and is serving a 16-year prison sentence. But Griner's case was shadowed by added layers of complexity and pressure - not least that negotiations took place against the backdrop of a war in which the US is arming Ukraine.

American basketball star Brittney Griner was released from a Russian prison in a swap for an arms dealer after negotiations. Griner was arrested in Russia ...

"The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland." It took painstaking and intense negotiations." She is on her way home," he said. She is on a plane. "She is safe. Griner was arrested in Russia on drug charges.

Blinken said that Cherelle Griner spoke to her wife Brittney and stressed that listening to them connect for the first time after the basketball player's ...

Furthermore, Antony Blinken said that he "wholeheartedly" wishes that they could bring back Paul Whelan home on the same plane as Brittney Griner. He said that the US had the opportunity to bring one detainee home from R [us](/topic/us)sia. As a result, Paul and his loved ones continue to suffer needlessly and unj [us](/topic/us)tly. [us](/topic/us)sian Government has not yet been willing to end his wrongful detention. He acknowledged that the administration continues to make efforts to bring Paul Whelan back to the US. He thanked the US State Department team and colleagues across the US government who worked tirelessly to secure the release of Brittney Griner.

వాషింగ్టన్‌: అమెరికా, రష్యాలు ఖైదీల పరస్పర విడుదల ఒప్పందం కింద అమెరికా బాస్కెట్‌బాల్‌ ...

Follow us on [Telegram](https://t.me/SakshiDailyNews) అయితే లగేజీలో హషిష్ నూనె (hashish oil) దొరకడంతో రష్యా కస్టమ్ అధికారులు అదుపులోకి తీసుకున్నారు. వాషింగ్టన్: అమెరికా, రష్యాలు ఖైదీల పరస్పర విడుదల ఒప్పందం కింద అమెరికా బాస్కెట్బాల్ స్టార్ బ్రిట్నీ గ్రైనర్ను రష్యా విడుదల చేసింది.

Roosevelt Room 8:38 A.M. ESTTHE PRESIDENT: Well, good morning, folks. And it is a good morning. Moments ago, standing together with her.

American basketball star Brittney Griner was headed back to the United States on Thursday after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms ...

"The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland." It took painstaking and intense negotiations." She is on her way home," he said. He landed in Russia Thursday, state television said. She is on a plane. "She is safe.

By Nandita Bose and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange ...

Bout was variously dubbed “the merchant of death” and “the sanctions buster” for his ability to get around arms embargoes. Bout was one of the world’s most wanted men before his arrest in 2008 in Thailand in a sting operation by U.S. A Biden administration official said the United States had proposed different options for Whelan’s release and that Russia’s “sham espionage” charges against him were the reason it treated his case differently. In a written statement, Griner’s family extended their “sincere gratitude” to Biden, and said they were praying for Whelan’s release. The swap was a rare instance of cooperation between the United States and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred.” “And the president decided that it was important to at least bring Brittney home now and continue to work on getting Paul back, too.” Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner’s wife, Cherelle. Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on Feb. officials in the UAE verified Griner had arrived there. Russia’s foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Bout, 55, a Russian citizen who in 2012 was given a 25-year prison sentence by a U.S. “The choice before us was one or none,” U.S.

American basketball star Brittney Griner packed her bags and was headed back to the United States on Thursday after being released from a Russian prison in ...

Russian state media released footage of the exchange, where Griner could be seen minus her distinctive dreadlocks, while Bout looked relaxed. Meanwhile, another American held in Russia, Paul Whelan, a former US Marine detained since 2018 and accused of spying, was not part of Thursday's exchange. He was accused of arming rebels in some of the world's bloodiest conflicts. She was accused of possession of vape cartridges with a small quantity of cannabis oil and was later sentenced in August to nine years in prison. She is on her way home," he said. The exchange was made at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

American basketball star Brittney Griner headed home, freed from Russian prison in exchange for the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout ...

Viktor Bout was held in an American prison for 12 years. Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possessing cannabis oil and last month sent to a penal colony. The deal, the second in eight months amid tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, secured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad and achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden.

Brittney Griner was released by Russia on December 8. Find out why the American Basketball star was detained.

The American Basketball star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia in February for allegedly carrying illegal cannabis oil. The crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. - The Basketball star was arrested at the airport on suspicion of felony narcotics smuggling. In the Rio Olympics, Griner led the United States women's national basketball team to victory. Griner was selected to the All-American basketball team. Why was the basketball star detained in Russia?

Before being arrested by Russian authorities for possessing cannabis oil in February, 32-year-old Brittney Griner had an amazing career in basketball, ...

Follow us on [also read] [Sports](https://www.firstpost.com/category/sports) [US Basketball star Brittney Griner freed in US-Russia prisoner swap](https://www.firstpost.com/sports/us-basketball-star-brittney-griner-freed-in-us-russia-prisoner-swap-11776341.html) I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. The Biden administration had since been working to get Griner back via a prisoner swap The arrest had added to the ongoing US-Russia tensions over the Ukraine war. She was then taken into custody at the airport on charges of large-scale transportation of illegal narcotics, which carried a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. You could argue very accurately that she is one of the best athletes in the world.” On 17 November, Griner was then relocated to a penal colony in Mordovia, situated about 350 kilometres east of Moscow. Griner also wrote to US president Joe Biden in July. In total, Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star – only seven players in WNBA history have made more All-Star appearances. She also formerly competed with the US Olympic basketball team in 2016 winning gold at the Rio Games and picking up her second winner’s medal in Tokyo last summer. In the following year, the lanky athlete — known for her dunking skills — was selected first by the Phoenix Mercury. An official said that Griner, 32, is making her way to the US from Russia via the United Arab Emirates.

The US basketball star Brittney Griner was released from Russian jail on December 8 in a prisoner swap for notorious arms dealer Victor Bout, known ...

Bout was detained in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok in 2008 in a US sting operation where he thought he was meeting with Colombian guerrillas and arrested under a warrant issued by a local court at the behest of the US. Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said the same day that Russia will continue its work to release all Russians who were jailed by the US. He had been one of the world's most notorious arms dealers, selling arms to Afghanistan, Asia and Latin America. “Viktor Bout's Afghanistan dealings were always controversial,” Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies at Oxford University, said in a tweet. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and star of the Women's National Basketball Association's Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on February 17 after spending a few months playing professional basketball in the Russian regions. Bout was born in Tajik capital of Dushanbe in Soviet times. "The choice before us was one or none," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News. [Bout arrived in Moscow to a media circus](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jfGECP3gMCs-5bbi-8liBxVZZ9ZANdZT/view?usp=share_link) where he was met by his mother and wife. She was sentenced on August 4 to nine years in a penal colony. "The swap of Viktor Bout for US basketball player Brittney Griner can truly be described as a New Year gift. The elaborate swap involved two private planes bringing the pair to Abu Dhabi airport from Moscow and Washington, and then flying them home. The two prisoners were exchanged in Abu Dhabi airport before flying home and both received full pardons.

Griner was jailed for carrying cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February, and was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday. The pair were ...

In the video, apparently provided by Russian security services, Bout was warmly greeted by two Russian officials as Griner, who is 6ft 9in (206cm), looks on. Pictures showed him hugging his mother and wife at the airport tarmac. During her trial in Russia, she said the cannabis oil found in her bag had been an "honest mistake". She is one of the best-known sportswomen in America. Footage on Russian state media showed them crossing on the tarmac with their respective teams. He has been held in an American prison for 12 years.

Mr. Griner was exchanged for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout. A plane believed to be carrying her touched down at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

In releasing Bout, the U.S. The U.S. He was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. But the U.S. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain. The WNBA star, who also played pro basketball in Russia, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February after Russian authorities said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil.