Brittney Greener is back on American soil after spending 294 days in a Russian prison
Brittney Griner He returned to US soil for the first time in 10 months After being released from Russian custody in a prisoner exchange deal with “Death Dealer” Viktor Bout.
The WNBA star arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio early Friday morning, where she will be examined and receive any necessary medical treatment.
Video footage showed Ms. Greiner and Bute exchanging on a tarmac runway in the Emirates on Thursday, after weeks of negotiations between Washington and Moscow.
The deal failed to include US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been held in Russia for four years. Whelan told CNN that he was “very disappointed” to learn he was not part of the prisoner exchange, saying, “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
President Joe Biden insisted on Thursday that “we haven’t forgotten Paul Whelan” and vowed to “never give up” to secure his release, as the exchange divided opinion across the country. The White House was also forced to deny claims by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that Mohammed bin Salman had negotiated the deal.
Brittney Greener’s family thanks President Joe Biden for her release from Russian custody
Brittney Greener’s family released a statement thanking President Joe Biden for her release from Russian custody.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to President Biden and his administration for the tireless work they have done to bring Britney home,” the statement read.
“We would also like to give special thanks to Governor Richardson and Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center for their work, as well as for staying in touch with us.”
The family went on to thank Paul Whelan and his family for their support as they hope he too will be released soon.
“We sincerely thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers – including Paul and the Whelan family who have been so generous with their support of Britney and our family during what we know is a heartbreaking time. We pray for Paul and for the speedy and safe return of all Americans wrongfully detained,” the statement read.
“We ask that you respect our privacy as we begin this path to recovery. The Greiner Family”
Rachel SharpDecember 9, 2022 22:00
Russian state media described the prisoner exchange as a “colossal victory” over the United States
Russian state media portrayed a prisoner exchange with the United States that resulted in the release of both former WNBA star Brittney Grenier and arms dealer Viktor Bout as a “tremendous victory” on the radio.
“I must say that we have achieved a tremendous victory today. “Russian intelligence agencies, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, carried out an amazing operation and brought home a man who did not once plead guilty, who was wrongly convicted and slandered but did not betray his country.”
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 21:31
The Russian spy who infiltrated American conservative groups gloats over Victor Bout’s release
Marina Butina, a Russian spy who was captured by US agents and later released, cursed on social media for the release of Viktor Bout, the “dealer of death” arms dealer who was traded for the release of former WNBA star Brittney Grenier.
“The fact that Russia paid through the (Victor) Bout exchange, which America fundamentally did not want to part with for many years, means now, as in The GodfatherWe made them an offer they couldn’t refuse,” Butina said on messaging app Telegram on Thursday. “This is a position of strength, comrades.”
Butina spent years infiltrating right-wing groups, including the National Rifle Association, before she was arrested and imprisoned. She was released from prison in 2019 by the Trump administration and returned to Moscow. She is now political.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 21:00
Congressman Troy Niles said Trump will have Paul Whelan at home “in a week” despite the former president’s failure to secure his release
Congressman Troy Niles told Newsmax that former President Donald Trump will have Paul Whelan’s house “within a week” despite the former president’s failure to secure his release during his tenure.
During his appearance on Newsmax, Mr. Nils said Joe Biden should call Mr. Trump and ask him to negotiate for Whelan’s release.
“You want to bring Paul Whelan home, Joe Biden, why don’t you call Donald Trump. Donald Trump will negotiate. He’s going to take Paul Whelan home and bring him home in a week,” the congressman said.
Whelan was arrested and convicted during Mr. Trump’s presidency, and Trump has failed to secure the man’s release. Russia offered the Trump administration to trade with Whelan, but Trump officials rejected the offer.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 20:45
A US national security spokesperson said officials are still working to secure Paul Whelan’s release
US national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday that officials continue to work to secure the release of Paul Whelan, an American man arrested in Russia in 2018 on espionage charges.
Mr. Whelan became a topic of discussion after former WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from Russian custody. Conservative critics of the prisoner exchange that freed Greiner and notorious arms dealer Victor Bout largely complained that Mr. Whelan was not included in the deal.
“We will actively work through [Moscow] channels to try to bring Paul home,” Mr Kirby told reporters.
According to White House officials, negotiators did attempt to engage Whelan in the quid pro quo, but Moscow rejected the offer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a future prisoner exchange is “possible”, but Mr Kirby said it was “deeds, not words” that mattered.
“We recorded what Mr. Putin said, let’s see what he actually does,” Kirby said.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 20:20
The White House press secretary said that Brittney Greener has met her wife, and she appears to be in good health
Former WNBA star Brittney Griner has reunited with her wife, Cheryl, according to White House Press Secretary Karen Jean-Pierre.
Greiner returned to the United States on Friday after being released from Russian custody thanks to a prisoner exchange negotiated by US officials. International arms dealer Victor Bout has been released from US custody in the trade.
Mrs. Jean-Pierre said Greiner was “in very good spirits” on her return, and appeared to be “in good health”.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:52
Brittney Griner cut her hair short while incarcerated in Russia because her locks were frostbitten
Former WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian custody this week thanks to the US’s prisoner exchange deal with Russia, reportedly cut her hair short while incarcerated because it was frozen on her head.
said Maria Blagovolina, one of Grainer’s attorneys ESPN Greener cut her hair about two weeks ago after it started to freeze due to the cold Russian winter.
“It is very cold in there and every time she washes her hair she gets cold and chills,” said Mrs. Blagovolina. “She had to wait until New Year’s Day.”
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:31
The White House press secretary said the Russians did not negotiate “in good faith” for Paul Whelan
White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that Russia is not willing to participate in “good faith” negotiations for the release of Paul Whelan, an American man imprisoned in the country since 2018. US officials have tried to include Mr. Whelan. In a prisoner exchange deal they reached for the release of former WNBA star Brittney Grenier, but no agreement was reached.
“In the last week or two, we’ve seen that the Russians were willing to release Brittney Griner for Mr. Pot. That’s what we were offered. They weren’t willing to negotiate in good faith for Paul Whelan.”
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:03
Russia offered Paul Whelan as part of Brittney Grenier’s trade, but demanded the spy who is serving a life sentence for murder
US officials who spoke with CNN told the outlet that Russia offered Paul Whelan as part of a prisoner exchange deal that freed former WNBA star Brittney Griner, but only if a Russian spy serving a life sentence in Germany for murder with “Merchant” is released. “Death” Victor Bout.
The United States inquired with Germany about the possible release of Russian spy Vadim Krasikov, who had been convicted of premeditated murder. The United States was unable to negotiate for the Russian’s release. However, according to the officials, the United States offered other imprisoned Russians an effort to get Mr. Whelan released, but those offers were rebuffed by Russia.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 18:46
Tucker Carlson makes an unsubstantiated claim that Biden chose to save Grenier and not Paul Whelan because of identity politics
During a broadcast on Fox News, host Tucker Carlson claimed, without evidence, that NBC News deleted a report it had initially said that Russia had given the United States the option of releasing either Brittney Griner or Paul Whelan. He claims the network did this at the behest of the Biden administration, again without any evidence.
“Why did they make that choice? You should know that Wallen is a Trump voter and he made the mistake of saying it on social media, and he’s paying the price for that now,” Carlson said. “Brittany Grenier is not like that. She has very different politics.”
According to Carlson, Greener was chosen because Whelan is a Trump voter and Greener is black, woman, and lesbian.
Russia — which has no incentive to protect Joe Biden’s image — has issued no statement undermining the White House’s claim that Mr. Whelan was never on the table for a possible prisoner exchange.
Greg GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 17:57
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