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Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison after 10 months in exchange for Viktor Bout, who is returning to Russia. The news comes months after back-and-forth negotiations between the U.S. and Russia following Griner's arrest in February after officials discovered hash oil in her luggage. President Joe Biden made the announcement on Twitter of the WNBA player's return to America.
Despite Griner's return home, NFL fans aren't happy about the deal Biden and his administration made to bring her back home. Many fans took to Twitter to say that the deal was one-sided:
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However, other NFL fans like the deal made to bring home the WNBA All-Star, including NFL analyst Robert Griffin III:
Despite some loving the deal, many fans took issue as to whom the United States gave up for Griner in a dangerous criminal in Bout.
Who is Viktor Bout?
Viktor Bout, whose nickname is the “Merchant of Death," was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to kill Americans among other charges. The United States claims Bout illegally brought in military-grade weapons to rogue leaders and rebel groups across Africa and beyond.
Why did Russia detain Brittney Griner?
Brittney Griner flew to Moscow back in February, where she played basketball during her previous offseason in the WNBA. Russian customs officials supposedly found .702 grams of cannabis oil in her suitcase upon her arrival to the country. It weighed less than a pen cap or a stick of gum.
Nonetheless, prosecutors claimed that it was sufficient to meet their “significant amount” threshold under Russian law. They asked the judge to sentence her to nine-and-a-half years in prison.
The U.S. government had classified Griner as "wrongfully detained" in May. The designation allowed for the prisoner swap process to start. In November, Brittney Griner was sent to a penal colony. Now, she'll return home in time for Christmas with her family and loved ones.
