Brittney Griner has been in the headlines for a while now, and we can expect to stay there for quite some time. It hasn’t been surprising at all though. The WNBA star just returned home after spending 10 months in a prison in a foreign country. The USA managed to secure her safe release by sending Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout the other way.
US officials: Russia frees WNBA player Brittney Griner in prisoner swap, with US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. pic.twitter.com/JEsGaOfFiu
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2022
It looks like the decision hadn’t gone down too well among people, as many slammed US president Joe Biden for the “hypocrisy”. Celebrities like Ben Askren even spoke out mentioning that Griner was a “Pot head”, while Kyrie Irving applauded her. The prisoner swap has been criticized by many and it seems we aren’t facing any shortage of hatred in recent times. That didn’t seem to be the case with the two prisoners in conversation, Brittney and Viktor.
Video of Viktor Bout and Brittney Griner prisoner swap
A video emerged recently as officials exchanged Viktor and Brittney at the Abu Dhabi airport. In the video, it looks like the pair had a conversation before they went their separate ways.
Russian state media release footage of the Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout prisoner swap: https://t.co/TuMxKvMmmI pic.twitter.com/xVgtQjrGbf
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 8, 2022
Bout later revealed what he said to the WNBA star to RT, a Russian state-controlled broadcaster. He said, “I wished her luck, she even sort of reached out her hand to me. Again, it’s our tradition. You should wish everyone good fortune and happiness.”
Bout mentions that he stuck true to his country’s tradition of wishing others happiness and good luck. However, we do not know if Griner said anything to the individual she was being swapped for. Many wonder if Griner will be facing time in the US for the crime she committed. She hasn’t made a statement just yet, and we would have to wait how it plays out.
Ultimately, Brittney will be glad that the US did not hesitate to let go of Viktor, despite the comments she made. The US government will also be working towards the release of Paul Whelan, an ex-US marine, as Brittney’s wife Cherelle Griner claimed. Many demanded that attention should be on him as well, since he’s also jailed in Russia.
