Early this morning, it was reported that WNBA star Brittney Griner had finally been released from Russian prison, but it came at a cost.
According to the report, Griner was released as part of a high-level prisoner exchange that saw the United States release Viktor Bout, a former Soviet Army lieutenant who had previously been described as the world’s biggest arms dealer. He was serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. after selling millions of dollars in weapons that were used against Americans.
The exchange reportedly took place in Abu Dhabi, with both Bout and Griner being flown back to their respective homes from there.
Griner had been imprisoned in Russia for nearly 10 months after getting caught in a Russian airport with vape products containing cannabis, which is illegal in Russia.
The American government faced increased pressure to bring Griner home after many felt as though she was being wrongly imprisoned in Russia—in what seemed to be a politically motivated move by the Russian government, with tensions increasing between the two countries as a result of Russia’s military invasion in Ukraine.
This breaking news had many on Twitter sharing their relief following Griner’s release, while others voiced their displeasure with the deal, feeling as though the U.S.A. gave up to much to free the two-time Olympic gold medalist.
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