Cousins! According to confirmed reports from White House officials WNBA all-star Brittney Griner has officially been released from Russian custody within a 1 for 1 swap!
It has been stated that arms dealer Viktor Bout also known as ‘Merchant of Death’ will return to Russia. He is said to have been in the middle of serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison following a direct conviction of conspiracy to kill Americans connected to the support of a Colombian terrorist organization, reports Fox News.
President Biden says Brittney is already on a plane on her way back to the U.S.
“After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along,” Biden said during a new conference on Thursday.
Though additional details have not been released publicly at this time, both U.S. and Russian officials had already been pretty vocal about the hopes of a potential deal.
“I am grateful to the State Department team and to our colleagues across the government who worked tirelessly to secure her release,” reads a forwarded statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “I especially commend Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, who is accompanying Brittney back to the United States, as well as his entire team. We also extend deep appreciation to our many partners who helped achieve this outcome, including our Emirati friends, who assisted in the transfer today.
“While we celebrate Brittney’s release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly. Despite our ceaseless efforts, the Russian Government has not yet been willing to bring a long overdue end to his wrongful detention. I wholeheartedly wish we could have brought Paul home today on the same plane with Brittney. Nevertheless, we will not relent in our efforts to bring Paul and all other U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad home to their loved ones where they belong.”
As we previously reported Brittney had been arrested earlier this year back in February as the Russia and Ukraine war began for brining in vape cartridges accompanied with oils from cannabis through a Moscow airport.
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