[NTD Times, Beijing time, December 09, 2022]The U.S. government finally reached an agreement with Russia to exchange Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was imprisoned for violating U.S. laws, for the Olympic Games imprisoned by Russia. Gold medalist and female basketball player Brittney Griner.
On December 8, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Greiner was on his way back to the United States.
“She’s safe, she’s on the plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden said at the White House. “We’ve been working hard to get her released home. This is the result of a series of difficult and tense negotiations.”
The 32-year-old Griner went to Russia to play with the team in February this year. When he passed through customs at the Moscow airport, Russian customs officials found cannabis oil in his luggage. After a series of trials, Greiner pleaded guilty, saying she did not knowingly bring cannabis oil into Russia.
A Russian court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison and exiled her to a harsh labor camp in Mordovia in November.
Victor Bout, 55, was sentenced to 25 years in prison when he pleaded guilty in 2011.
Before his arrest, the Soviet-era military officer had been supplying the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, a terrorist organization located in Colombia, South America, with a large number of weapons, including 800 surface-to-air missiles and 30,000 AK-47s. .
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has been active there all year round and is suspected of killing many Americans in Colombia.
american prisoner
In addition to Greiner, former U.S. Navy officer Paul Whelan (Paul Whelan) was also detained by Russian authorities on espionage charges when he went to Russia for business. Although Whelan completely denied the charges, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
In previous official briefings, the Biden administration had indicated that it might trade Bout for Whelan. On Thursday, Biden explained that it is not up to the US to decide who will go home with Bout.
Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, told the media on Thursday that the family was notified by officials on Wednesday that Whelan would not be able to return home.
News of Greiner’s return Thursday still galvanized the Whelan family. David told the media: “The previous warning meant that our family was prepared for the public’s disappointment with us now. (Not being released) is a disaster for Paul.”
Other Americans currently held by Russia include Marc Fogel, who was arrested for having marijuana oil in his luggage when he entered the country.
Earlier this year, the United States traded Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko for Trevor Reed, who was in Russian custody.
(Reporter Ren Hao compiles the report/Responsible editor: Yun Tao)
URL of this article: https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/12/08/a103593751.html
