Brittney Griner herself spent ten months in Russian captivity. On the sidelines of the Olympic Games, she learned that several of her compatriots had returned home. The basketball player does not hide her joy.
US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was herself formerly imprisoned in Russia, reacted with great joy to the prisoner exchange between several countries and the return of her compatriots. “Great day. It’s a great day. It’s a great day,” she said on Thursday evening after the US team’s 87-74 victory over Belgium at the Olympic Games in Paris. “We’ll talk more about it later,” added the two-time Olympic champion, emphasizing how happy she was for the families of those released. “Every day that Americans come home is a victory. That’s a victory.”
In addition to her WNBA career, Griner also played for the Russian club UGMK Yekaterinburg before she was arrested at Moscow airport in February 2022 on drug possession charges. She had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner was imprisoned for almost ten months and sentenced to nine years for drug smuggling and possession.
In December 2022, Griner was released as part of a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. US President Joe Biden also campaigned for her release.
On Thursday, a total of 26 prisoners were transferred to the other side: Among them were five Germans, three Americans, a Russian-British citizen with permanent residency in the USA (“Green Card”) and seven Russian opposition members and Kremlin critics.
Griner did not reveal how and when she found out about the exchange – but she did say that it was emotional for her. “I’m sure it will be even more emotional afterwards. I’m just happy. This is a great success.”
Source: Stern
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