Brittany Greener returned to the United States after spending 294 days in a Russian prison
Brittney Greiner returned to US soil for the first time in 10 months after being released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap with “merchant of death” Victor Butt.
The WNBA star checked into Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio early Friday morning, where she will be examined and treated.
Footage shows Ms Greiner and Bout exchanging hands on a runway in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, after weeks of talks between Washington and Moscow.
The deal does not include US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia for the past four years. Mr. Whelan told CNN he was “very disappointed” to learn he was not part of the prisoner exchange, adding: “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
President Joe Biden insisted Thursday that “we have not forgotten Paul Whelan” and vowed to “never give up” on his release, as the exchange divided public opinion across the country. The White House also had to deny claims by Saudi Arabia and the UAE that MBS had negotiated the deal.
Brittany Greiner’s family thanks President Joe Biden for freeing her from Russian custody
Brittany Griner’s family released a statement thanking President Joe Biden for her release from Russian custody.
“We want to sincerely thank President Biden and his administration for their tireless efforts to bring Brittany home,” the statement read.
“We also want to give special thanks to Governor Richardson and Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center for their work and continued communication with us.”
The family continued to thank Paul Whelan and his family for their support and hope that he will be released soon.
We sincerely thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers – including Paul and the Whelan family who have generously supported Brittany and our family during what we know has been 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 walk this path of healing. Griner Family”
Rachel SharpDecember 9, 2022 at 22:00
Russian state media consider the prisoner exchange a “huge victory” over America
Russian state media portrayed the prisoner swap with the United States, which led to the release of former WNBA star Brittany Griner and arms dealer Victor Butt, as a “tremendous victory” in broadcasts.
I must say that we achieved a great victory today. “I don’t even think we have a full understanding of how big it is,” Russian state media personality Vladimir Soloviev said during his daily broadcast. Russian intelligence agencies, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducted a stunning operation and brought home a man who once pleaded not guilty and was wrongly convicted and slandered but never betrayed his country.
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 21:31
The Russian spy who infiltrated US conservative groups is delighted to have Victor Butt freed
Marina Butina, a Russian spy who was captured by US agents and later released, took to social media to praise the release of “Death Merchant” arms dealer Victor Butt in exchange for the release of former WNBA star Brittney Greiner.
The fact that Russia traded (Victor) Bout, who the US basically didn’t want to part with for years, now means that like step fatherWe gave them an offer that cannot be rejected, Mrs. Butina said on Telegram messaging application on Thursday. “This is a position of power, comrades.”
Ms. Butina spent years infiltrating right-wing groups, including the National Rifle Association, before she was arrested and jailed. He was released from prison by the Trump administration in 2019 and returned to Moscow. He is now a politician.
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 at 21:00
Congressman Troy Nells says Trump will bring Paul Whelan home “in a week,” despite the former president’s failure to secure his release.
Congressman Troy Nells told Newsmax that former President Donald Trump was unable to take Paul Whelan home “within a week,” even though the former president failed to take him home during his tenure.
Mr. Nels said during an appearance on Newsmax that Joe Biden should call Trump and ask him to negotiate for Mr. Whelan’s release.
Joe Biden, you want to bring Paul Whelan home, why don’t you call Donald Trump. Donald Trump will negotiate; He takes Paul Whelan home and brings him home in a week.
Mr. Whelan was arrested and convicted during Mr. Trump’s presidency, and Mr. Trump could not guarantee the man’s release. Russia offered the Trump administration a deal for Mr. Whelan, but Trump officials rejected the offer.
A US Homeland Security spokesman says authorities are still working to free Paul Whelan
U.S. Homeland Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday that authorities are continuing to work to secure the release of Paul Whelan and the American man who was detained in Russia in 2018 on espionage charges.
Mr. Whelan became the subject of controversy following the release of former WNBA star Brittany Griner from Russian custody. Critics of the largely conservative prisoner swap that freed Griner and notorious arms dealer Victor Butte complained that Mr. Whelan was not included in the deal.
“We will actively work on this [Moscow] Kirby told reporters.
Negotiators tried to include Mr. Whelan in the exchange, but Moscow rejected the offer, White House officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a future prisoner exchange was “possible”, but Mr Kirby said “deeds, not words” mattered.
“We recorded what Mr. Putin said, let’s see what he actually does,” Mr. Kirby said.
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 20:20
White House spokesman says Brittany Greiner, who has been reunited with her husband, appears to be in good health
Former WNBA star Brittany Greiner has reunited with her husband, Cheryl, according to White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre.
Griner returned to the United States on Friday after being released from Russian custody thanks to a prisoner swap negotiated by US officials. Victor Bout, an international arms dealer, was released from US custody in this business.
Mrs. Jean-Pierre said Griner was in “very good spirits” after his return and appeared to be “in perfect health.”
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:52
Brittany Greiner cut her hair while in Russia because her hair was frozen
Former WNBA star Brittany Greiner, who was released from Russian custody this week thanks to a US-Russia prisoner swap deal, apparently cut her hair while in prison because it was freezing on her head.
Maria Blagovlina, one of Griner’s lawyers, said ESPN Greiner cut her hair almost two weeks ago after it froze due to the cold Russian winter.
“It’s very cold there, and every time she washes her hair, she gets colder and colder,” Ms. Blagovlina said. “He should have waited until New Year’s Day.”
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:31
A White House spokesman says the Russians did not negotiate for Paul Whelan “in good faith.”
White House spokeswoman Karin 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 who has been imprisoned in the country since 2018. American officials tried to include Mr. Whelan. A prisoner swap was made for the release of former WNBA star Brittany Griner, but no deal was reached.
In the last week or two, we saw that the Russians were willing to release Britney Greiner for Mr. Boot. This is what was presented to us. “They were not willing to negotiate in good faith for Paul Whelan.”
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 19:03
Russia offered Paul Whelan as part of the Brittany Greener business, but wanted the spy to serve life in prison for murder.
U.S. officials who spoke to CNN told the outlet that Russia offered Paul Whelan as part of a prisoner swap deal that freed former WNBA star Brittany Greiner, but only if a Russian spy convicted of murder in Germany was released. He was serving life imprisonment, to be released together with the “merchant”. Death” Victor Butt.
The United States has inquired of Germany about the possible release of Vadim Krasikov, a Russian spy convicted of murder. America could not negotiate for Russia’s freedom. However, the United States made offers to other imprisoned Russians in an effort to free Mr. Whelan, but Russia rejected those offers, officials said.
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 18:46
Tucker Carlson makes the baseless claim that Biden saved Greiner, not Paul Whelan, because of identity politics.
No Evidence host Tucker Carlson claimed that NBC News had faked a report that initially said Russia had authorized the United States to release Britney Greiner or Paul Whelan during a Fox News broadcast. He claims that the network did this at the behest of the Biden administration, again without a shred of evidence.
“Why did they make this choice? You should know that Whalen is a Trump voter and he made the mistake of saying it on social media and now he is paying the price. “Brittany is not Greener. “He has a very different policy.”
According to Carlson, Greiner was chosen because Mr. Whelan is a Trump voter and Greiner is black, a woman and a lesbian.
Russia – which has no incentive to protect Joe Biden’s image – has issued no statement that undermines the White House’s claim that Mr. Whelan was never on the table for a possible prisoner swap.
Graig GraziosiDecember 9, 2022 17:57
