WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released by Russia in exchange for the US releasing arms dealer Viktor Bout. Brittney Griner has been held hostage in Russia for months for drug charges, and she is finally being released. This swap brings an end to the months of talks between the US and Russia to free her. Even though Griner is released, former US marine Paul Whelan is still imprisoned in Russia. He has been in Russia’s custody for 4 years, and he was accused of spying for the US, which both Whelan and the US have denied. According to US officials, Russia was not negotiating Whelan’s release, and the US had “a choice between bringing home one particular American — Brittney Griner — or bringing home none.” Whelan said that he is happy for Griner, but he is “greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up.”
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/
