Russian Detained US Basketball Star Released... Biden Says "Intense Negotiations"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina]The United States brought back an American female basketball player who was imprisoned in Russia by exchanging her with a Russian arms dealer currently serving time in the U.S.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the morning of the 8th (local time) that WNBA star Brittney Griner was flying from Russia to the United States. President Biden said, "We have been working toward this day for a long time. It was a difficult and intense negotiation," and added, "I thank the administration staff who tirelessly and diligently worked to secure her release."

In exchange, the U.S. sent Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence since 2012 in the U.S. for illegally selling weapons worth millions of dollars, back to Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed in a statement that Bout, imprisoned in the U.S., and Griner, who was in Russia, were exchanged. The swap took place at Abu Dhabi Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the same day.

Brittney Griner, who plays for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and was active on a Russian team during the off-season, was arrested in February this year upon entering Russia after her vacation on drug smuggling charges. She claimed that she had legally been prescribed medical marijuana for treatment of a chronic illness and that she accidentally carried it without intending to break the law. However, the Russian court sentenced her to nine years in prison in August this year.

Paul Whelan, an American who was also part of the exchange negotiations, remains imprisoned in Russia.

A senior Biden administration official explained at a briefing that day, "Russia made it clear that the only way to get Brittney back was the release of Russian national Viktor Bout," and added, "We tried all other alternatives." Bout, released through the exchange, is deeply involved in arms trafficking in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Africa. Accordingly, there are concerns within the U.S. that this may set a bad precedent.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.