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WorldPrisoner swap: Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout both back in home countries

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Prisoner swap: Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout both back in home countries

The WNBA star, who was serving nine years, in Russia for was transported by air to San Antonio, Texas.

After being released in a prisoner swap with convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death,” US basketball star Brittney Griner has returned to the United States.

The WNBA star, 32, was transported by air to San Antonio, Texas.

Roger D. Carstens, a special presidential envoy for the US, exclaimed: “So happy to have Brittney back on American soil. Welcome home, BG!”

Ms Griner was detained in February when customs agents said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

She had pleaded guilty at her trial saying she used the cartridges to relieve pain from sports injuries and had made an “honest mistake”.

Nevertheless, a Russian court sentenced her to nine years in prison in August.

Ms Griner “represents the best of America”, he added.

President Biden insisted the US has not forgotten about Paul Whelan, a former US marine who remains in Russian custody.

A senior US official said the administration tried everything they could to get Mr Whelan out, but “they are treating him differently. They say he is an espionage case. They said the choice was either one [Griner] or none”.

He did not refer to the price the US paid for Ms Griner’s liberty – the release of convicted arms dealer Bout.

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