Britney Greiner is free!
The WNBA star has been released from Russian custody following a successful prisoner swap between the former champion and notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to multiple reports.
BREAKING: Brittany Greiner was released in a prisoner exchange and is currently in U.S. custody. pic.twitter.com/zZlIxNYAEo
— WSLAM (@wslam) December 8, 2022
Greiner is currently in U.S. custody and will undergo medical examination in the United Arab Emirates. President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold a news conference at 8:30 a.m. next to Griner’s wife, Sherrell, the White House said.
“She’s safe. She’s on a plane and on her way home,” Biden said Thursday morning at the White House. According to CNN. “After months of unjust detention and excruciating conditions in Russia, Britney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, where she was meant to be all along.”
Sherrell followed up on President Biden’s statement, saying that after BG’s release, “the whole family is together.”
“I’m just standing here today overwhelmed with emotion, but the most important feeling I have right now is one of profound gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration,” she said. ABC by ABC.
“It’s a happy day for me and my family,” she said.
Fellow American Paul Whelan, a Marine, was not included in the prisoner exchange. He is being held in Russia on suspicion of espionage. The president said Wellen’s exclusion from the deal was “not a choice about which Americans to bring home” and criticized Russia for “treating Paul’s case differently than Britney’s.” .
U.S. officials went on to say that Griner’s release was “the only deal we could make” and that once it became clear that Russia would not trade Whelan, the U.S. accepted it and said it was “get Britney or nothing.” “It became a choice whether or not to do so,” he said. According to officials.
I spoke to Brittney Greiner earlier.
she is safe.
She is on a plane.
She is on her way home. pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022
Greiner’s release comes months after he was convicted of drug possession and smuggling in August. The controversial ordeal began in February after Russian authorities discovered and arrested her in possession of e-cigarette cartridges containing hashish oil, also known as marijuana. After his conviction was upheld, Griner spent time in a harsh Russian penal colony.
