[The Epoch Times, December 8, 2022](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Li Yan) U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday (December 8) that American basketball star Brittney Griner Released from a Russian prison through a US-Russian prisoner exchange, now in US custody.
“She is safe,” Biden said in a tweet. “She is on a plane. She is on her way home.”
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Greiner on the phone from the Oval Office, a U.S. official said, adding that Greiner’s family members who are at the White House also spoke with her.
Russia’s foreign ministry said it had exchanged Grina for Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen and former arms dealer.
Moscow said on Thursday Bout had returned to Russia, state media RIA Novosti reported, citing a foreign ministry source.
The outlet added that the prisoner exchange with WNBA star Greiner was “successfully completed at Abu Dhabi Airport” on Thursday.
Gliner was held in Moscow in February for bringing drugs into the country and pleaded guilty in early July. But she said she inadvertently brought marijuana to Russia. On August 4, a Russian judge ruled that she had deliberately brought marijuana into the country and sentenced her to nine years in prison.
The prisoner swap does not include another American the State Department has determined was wrongfully imprisoned, Paul Whelan. Biden pledged to continue working to bring Whelan home.
“We haven’t forgotten Paul Whelan, who was unjustly detained in Russia for years,” Biden said Thursday. “It’s sad that Russia treats Paul Whelan differently than Britney for completely illegal reasons. “
A U.S. official said Russia is currently only willing to deal with Greiner’s case and refuses to exchange Whelan.
Whelan, a former U.S. Marine with U.S., Irish, British and Canadian nationalities, was detained by Russian authorities in a Moscow hotel in December 2018. Russian authorities say he was involved in an intelligence operation and have sentenced him to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, which he has vehemently denied.
According to CNN, a source familiar with the situation said Whelan’s family has been informed of Griner’s release. The Whelan family is happy for her but sad that Paul continues to be imprisoned in Russia.
“While we have not succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we will not give up. We will never give up. We remain in close contact with Paul’s family, Whelan’s family,” Biden said. Whelan’s release.”
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#
