Since being released from a Russian penal colony, Brittney Griner has made her first public appearance.
The American basketball star and her wife Cherelle were spotted posing for photos at a rally in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, honouring Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Before being released in a prisoner exchange, 32-year-old Mrs. Griner spent nearly ten months in custody on drug-related charges.
She expressed her joy at returning home to the local media.
An All-Star centre with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medallist, Mrs Griner was arrested in Russia in February – days before Russia invaded Ukraine – after authorities at a Moscow airport found cannabis oil in her luggage.
She was later convicted of smuggling and possessing narcotics and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony.
HAPPY TO BE HOME: @PhoenixMercury star @brittneygriner makes appearance at #AZMLK Festival in Phoenix.
— Jonathan McCall (@JonathanMcCall) January 16, 2023
BG posed for pictures with fans.
Talked about being Houstonians.
Says she’s happy to be home after time in Russian prison.#News #AZ #BG42 #Hoops #WNBA pic.twitter.com/G2ocB8fEqO
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter
Her case drew international attention, with high-profile figures like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and NBA star Lebron James calling on the White House to secure her release.
In December, the Kremlin traded Mrs Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout, convicted in 2011 of conspiring to kill Americans. The deal did not include Paul Whelan, another American who has been sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges.
She flew back home to her native Texas on 9 December, a moment described by Phoenix Mercury President Vince Kozar as “a really special moment”.
“She was so excited and we were so excited for just that moment, we had gotten past any of the fear or sadness or anything else that came along with it,” Mr Kozar told the ABC-15 news outlet.
Mrs Griner, who is currently a free agent, has indicated she plans to return to the basketball court this year with her WNBA team in Phoenix for their upcoming season.
Source: BBC.com