WNBA Star Released From Russian Captivity Following Prisoner Swap

[Webster]

The Guardian: Brittney Griner freed from Russian prison in exchange for Viktor Bout

Russia freed the jailed US basketball star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange for the notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been held in a US prison for 12 years.

Joe Biden, who had made Griner’s release a top priority after she spent almost 10 months in jail on drugs charges, said in an address from the White House he had spoken with Griner and found her “in good spirits”. “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances,” he said. “Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along.”

But the president expressed regret the deal did not include Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since December 2018 on espionage charges his family and the US government say are baseless. Biden said: “Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up. We will never give up.”

Griner’s wife, Cherelle, stood beside Biden and the vice-president, Kamala Harris, and said she was “overwhelmed with emotion”. “The most important emotion that I have right now is just sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration. He just mentioned this work is not easy, and it has not been,” she said. “Today my family is whole, but as you all are aware, there’s so many other families who are not whole. [Brittney] is not here to say this but I will gladly speak on her behalf and say that BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.”

The second such exchange in eight months, following the freeing of Trevor Reed in April, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad.

Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees. She was convicted in August and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. Biden’s authorization to release Bout, once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death”, underscored the pressure his administration faced to get Griner home, particularly after the resolution of her criminal case and her transfer to a penal colony.

An anonymous US official told CNN that leaving Whelan out of the deal had been “a difficult decision” but “it was a choice to get Brittney or nothing”.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed to state media that Griner had been exchanged for Bout in a secret swap at an airport in Abu Dhabi. The ministry did not give any more details. Lawyers for Griner in Russia did not respond when asked to comment. A lawyer for Whelan said he had not been approached. But, he added, these swaps were usually worked out behind the scenes by intelligence services. “Lawyers aren’t usually approached with these questions,” he told the Guardian. “All these questions are decided by the security services secretly, and we and even the prisoners only find out at the end.”

In a statement, Whelan’s family said they welcomed the Griner exchange but were “devastated” Whelan was not freed.

Russian and US officials had conveyed cautious optimism after months of negotiations, with Biden saying in November he was hopeful. A top Russian official said last week a deal was possible before year’s end. Even so, the fact that the deal was a one-for-one swap was a surprise given that US officials had for months expressed determination to bring home Griner and Whelan.

Bout is a former Soviet lieutenant colonel who the US justice department once described as one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers. He was serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons US officials said were to be used against Americans.

But the detention of one of the greatest players in WNBA history contributed to a swirl of unprecedented public attention for an individual detainee case. Griner was arrested in February. Her status as an openly gay Black woman, locked up in a country where authorities have been hostile to the LBGTQ+ community, infused racial, gender and social dynamics into her legal saga.

Her case emerged as a major inflection point in US-Russia diplomacy at a time of deteriorating relations prompted by Moscow’s war against Ukraine, yielding the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow – a call between the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov – in more than five months.

Blinken revealed publicly in July that the US had made a “substantial proposal” for Griner and Whelan. People familiar with it said the US offered Bout. Such a public overture drew a rebuke from the Russians and risked weakening the US hand. But the announcement was meant to communicate that Biden was doing what he could and to pressure the Russians. The release followed months of negotiations involving Bill Richardson, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, and his top deputy, Mickey Bergman.

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Joe Biden has tweeted news of Brittney Griner’s release, sharing photos of him speaking with her wife, Cherelle Griner:


Also pictured is vice-president Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken.

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) 'Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones': Biden
Speaking at the White House, Joe Biden formally announced the release of Brittney Griner from detention in Russia, and pledged to continue working to bring home another American jailed in the country. “Moments ago, standing together with her wife Cherelle in the Oval Office, I spoke with Brittney Griner,” Biden said. “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home 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.”

He thanked officials in his administration who worked for her released, as well as the United Arab Emirates, “because that’s where she landed.” The president noted that “the past few months have been hell” for Griner, and her family and teammates.

He also mentioned the case of Paul Whelan, another American whose release from Russia he said he was working on. “We’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who’s been unjustly detained in Russia for years.”

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Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, shared a few words as Biden closed his speech.

“Over the last nine months, you all have been so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life,” Cherelle Griner said,” describing herself as “overwhelmed with emotions, but the most important emotion that I have right now is just sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration.”

“Today my family is whole, but as you are all aware, there are so many families who are not whole,” she continued, saying she and Brittney will remain committed to “getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.”

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Russia exchanged Brittney Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout at Abu Dhabi airport, Politico reports, and the two walked past each other on the tarmac.

Biden said Griner would be back in the United States “in the next 24 hours”. According to Politico, Griner is heading to a military facility in San Antonio, Texas, to be evaluated.

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Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the president of the United Arab Emirates have issued a joint statement acknowledging they led mediation efforts that resulted in the exchanged of arms dealer Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner, Reuters reports.

“The success of the mediation efforts was a reflection of the mutual and solid friendship between their two countries and the United States of America and the Russian Federation,” the countries.

It “highlighted the important role played by the leaderships of the two brotherly countries in promoting dialogue between all parties”.

Saudi Arabia has lately been involved in mediating the release of foreign fighters captured in Ukraine. Washington’s relationship with both countries has suffered in recent months after they supported a production cut by the OPEC+ group of oil producers, which the Biden administration said would needlessly drive up energy prices that had already risen due to Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.

 

[Webster]

(CBS News) Griner was moved from penal colony a "couple days ago," officials say
Senior administration officials told reporters in a call Thursday morning that Griner was moved a to Moscow "couple days ago" from the penal colony where she was imprisoned, before being taken to the UAE for the prisoner swap. The officials said the president spoke to her from the tarmac in the UAE, and she is in the air and on her way back to the states. One official said she is "in good health" and was in an upbeat mood, eager to get back to her wife, friends, family and WNBA.

The officials said it became clear in recent weeks that the U.S. could bring Brittney Griner home or no one at all. The Russian's made clear the only option for Griner's release was the exchange for Bout. Bout was given an act of clemency from the president in order to be released, but the guilt of his conviction remains. Yesterday, a senior U.S. official visited Whelan's sister in person to share the news about Griner. The officials also said the president has made clear to the Whelan family that when they are ready, he is eager to personally convey his commitment to Paul's case. Another senior U.S. official also spoke to Paul from prison to inform him of today's news.

The officials also thanked former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who has been working in his capacity as a private citizen to facilitate the release of Griner and Whelan.

The officials said the negotiations with Russia were very targeted and only about bringing wrongfully detained Americans home. They said they also briefed Ukraine on the negotiations to make sure they knew the talks were about that one issue. One official expressed the deepest appreciation to the UAE for assisting in facilitating the transfer.

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Pelosi: Putin's "cruelty" against Griner shows "brazen contempt for human rights"
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commended Mr. Biden, Blinken and national security officials for their work in freeing Griner from Russia and said both the country and Congress are "overjoyed" to learn of her release. "Today, our hearts are with her dear wife, Cherelle, and the entire Griner family as their beloved Brittney is safely on her way back to America and will be home for the holidays," the speaker said in a statement.

Pelosi lamented that Griner suffered "unthinkable trauma" for 10 months while she was wrongfully imprisoned in Russia and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the harm to Griner during her detention. "Putin's cruelty against Brittney — and his monstrous actions against Ukraine — are staggering reminders of his brazen contempt for human rights, human dignity and the rule of law," she said.

Pelosi, too, said Congress supports the Biden administration's ongoing efforts to secure the release of Whelan and other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Let’s see a marine who served and loves this country didn’t break the law in Russia. And we have a trash woman who hates the country, hates the constitution, is a racist and broke the laws of Russia gets out. Don’t want to hear that because you sleep with a certain sex you don’t get special privileges. One piece of garbage frees another piece of garbage.

 

[Webster]

Let’s see a marine who served and loves this country didn’t break the law in Russia. And we have a trash woman who hates the country, hates the constitution, is a racist and broke the laws of Russia gets out. Don’t want to hear that because you have you sleep with a certain sex you don’t get special privileges. One piece of garbage frees another piece of garbage.

Paul Whelan's family would like to have a word with you, sir....


(CBS News) Paul Whelan's brother says Biden administration made "the right decision" to bring Griner home
David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, the 52-year-old Marine veteran who remains imprisoned in Russia, says he's happy Griner is free and praised the Biden administration's handling of her release. "I am so glad that Brittney Griner is on her way home," he wrote. "As the family member of a Russian hostage, I can literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays," adding, "The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen."

He said that the government "this time" told the Whelan family in advance that "Paul would be left behind." Whelan's brother pointedly noted that Griner's release differed from American Trevor Reed's in April, when the Whelan family was not told in advance.

This time, David Whelan said the "early warning meant that our family has been able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a catastrophe for Paul." He went on to say that he did not know whether his brother has been made aware of Griner's release, but "he will surely learn from Russian media." And he said his parents have spoken with him every day since Dec. 2, and he expects they will speak to him soon.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Paul Whelan's family would like to have a word with you, sir....


(CBS News) Paul Whelan's brother says Biden administration made "the right decision" to bring Griner home
David Whelan, the brother of Paul Whelan, the 52-year-old Marine veteran who remains imprisoned in Russia, says he's happy Griner is free and praised the Biden administration's handling of her release. "I am so glad that Brittney Griner is on her way home," he wrote. "As the family member of a Russian hostage, I can literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays," adding, "The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn't going to happen."

He said that the government "this time" told the Whelan family in advance that "Paul would be left behind." Whelan's brother pointedly noted that Griner's release differed from American Trevor Reed's in April, when the Whelan family was not told in advance.

This time, David Whelan said the "early warning meant that our family has been able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a catastrophe for Paul." He went on to say that he did not know whether his brother has been made aware of Griner's release, but "he will surely learn from Russian media." And he said his parents have spoken with him every day since Dec. 2, and he expects they will speak to him soon.

Well he is an idiot. He picked a woman who hates everything his brother stood for to protect this country. She is a grade a garbage that doesn’t deserve to be released. She knew full well she was breaking the law.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

 

[Webster]

Take notes, @WHO IS SERAFIN....

Mastodon Party

mstdn.party

--I'm not an expert on prisoner trades so I'll limit my comment to this: If you're upset that Biden exchanged an arms dealer for Brittany Griner—but approved Trump releasing 5,000 Taliban terrorists who then took over Afghanistan—stop pretending its national security you care about. Moreover, for the people pearl clutching that the U.S. “traded an arms dealer” for the release of an innocent American woman—wait til you hear about the worlds largest arms dealer. (Hint: It’s the USA).

 

[PGen98]

Well he is an idiot. He picked a woman who hates everything his brother stood for to protect this country. She is a grade a garbage that doesn’t deserve to be released. She knew full well she was breaking the law.

lol, of course YOU have an issue with it.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

lol, of course YOU have an issue with it.

Yes, of course I’m upset a criminal got exchanged over someone who served our country and didn’t break any laws.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Take notes, @WHO IS SERAFIN....

Mastodon Party

mstdn.party

--I'm not an expert on prisoner trades so I'll limit my comment to this: If you're upset that Biden exchanged an arms dealer for Brittany Griner—but approved Trump releasing 5,000 Taliban terrorists who then took over Afghanistan—stop pretending its national security you care about. Moreover, for the people pearl clutching that the U.S. “traded an arms dealer” for the release of an innocent American woman—wait til you hear about the worlds largest arms dealer. (Hint: It’s the USA).

I’m upset he picked a piece of shit over someone who didn’t break a law ALL for personal gain instead of doing what is right.


And why I’ve stressed we need to pull out every last troop out of every country and let everyone deal with their own problems.

 

[Webster]

And why I’ve stressed we need to pull out every last troop out of every country and let everyone deal with their own problems.

Yeah, 'cause that worked so well between 1918 and 1939....

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has said more prisoner swaps are possible after Moscow yesterday released American basketball star Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, the Associated Press reports.

“Everything is possible,” Putin said, when asked in an interview if another such exchange could happen. “We aren’t refusing to continue this work in the future.”

Still detained in Russia is Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive who is facing espionage charges. Republicans criticized Joe Biden for agreeing to a deal that did not include Whelan, a former marine, while the president pledged to continue working for his release.

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As we’ve mentioned Republican criticism of Joe Biden for trading basketball star Brittney Griner for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, here’s Florida senator Marco Rubio’s considered opinion: “We have to recognize, even as we’re happy an American’s coming home, it does incentivize the taking of more Americans,” he told reporters on Friday morning.

The theme from Republicans seems to be that the exchange was a very poor deal for Biden. Even Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who angered his party by joining the January 6 committee, weighed in.

Although Biden stressed on Thursday the deal was essentially “get Griner or get nobody”, Kinzinger appeared furious that Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia for four years on espionage charges, was left behind. Not so fast, says Tristan Snell, a political analyst and lawyer who helped prosecute the Trump University scam while at the New York attorney general’s office. As president, Snell says, Trump secured the release of a Taliban leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, for… absolutely nobody.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Yeah, 'cause that worked so well between 1918 and 1939....

We weren’t a super power and it should have never been our responsibility anyways.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Yeah, 'cause that worked so well between 1918 and 1939....

And I don’t get it you bitch and moan we interfere. But then you don’t want our troops home? Either the left excepts if we are going to stay around the world swaying our big balls with carriers and military might or get on team bring everyone home. Pick a side and be consistent for once!

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

(The Guardian) Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has said more prisoner swaps are possible after Moscow yesterday released American basketball star Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, the Associated Press reports.

“Everything is possible,” Putin said, when asked in an interview if another such exchange could happen. “We aren’t refusing to continue this work in the future.”

Still detained in Russia is Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive who is facing espionage charges. Republicans criticized Joe Biden for agreeing to a deal that did not include Whelan, a former marine, while the president pledged to continue working for his release.

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As we’ve mentioned Republican criticism of Joe Biden for trading basketball star Brittney Griner for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, here’s Florida senator Marco Rubio’s considered opinion: “We have to recognize, even as we’re happy an American’s coming home, it does incentivize the taking of more Americans,” he told reporters on Friday morning.

The theme from Republicans seems to be that the exchange was a very poor deal for Biden. Even Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who angered his party by joining the January 6 committee, weighed in.

Although Biden stressed on Thursday the deal was essentially “get Griner or get nobody”, Kinzinger appeared furious that Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia for four years on espionage charges, was left behind. Not so fast, says Tristan Snell, a political analyst and lawyer who helped prosecute the Trump University scam while at the New York attorney general’s office. As president, Snell says, Trump secured the release of a Taliban leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, for… absolutely nobody.

He just had to kiss the ring first of the radical non straight people agenda.

 

[Webster]

Pick a side and be consistent for once!

Webster & Serafin standing outside the Politics Lounge

---

Serafin, my friend and fellow American, to borrow Margaret Mitchell's famous words from Gone with the Wind...

I frankly don't give a damn what you think in that regard; I will speak my mind on the issues of the day and am not going to let you or anyone else hang me up on consistency. Brittany Griner is an American and I for one am damn glad she's back home on American soil...and for the record, given your support for Donald Trump, it is rich as hell for you to tell someone else to be consistent, whatever the hell that means.

 

[Nebulous]

I am glad she finally got released. My coworker and I were talking about her today. She looks like an avatar, she just needs to turn blue.