Brittney Griner To Receive Medical Evaluation In San Antonio Army Hospital

WNBA star Brittney Griner was recently transferred to an Army hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She was freed from a Moscow penal colony after being imprisoned for 10 months for possession of marijuana oil.

Griner, star center for the Phoenix Suns, was freed after spending 288 days in a Russian penal colony in a prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia.

The WNBA star was swapped for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed the “Merchant of Death.”

Following Griner’s release, President Joe Biden shared the effort it took to release her.

“It took painstaking and intense negotiations, “ President Biden detailed. “And I want to thank all the hardworking public servants across my administration who worked tirelessly to secure her release. I also want to thank the UAE for helping us facilitate Brittney’s return, because that’s where she landed.”

Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner, stood next to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during his live remarks and also spoke with gratitude for those who helped free Griner.

“There’s been so many hands involved and so, I’d like to take a moment to just specifically mention a few,” Cherelle said, mentioning Vice President Harris, Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Josh Geltzer from the National Security Council along with Roger Carstens and Fletcher Schoen from the Hostage Envoy’s Office.

“And also, BG’s agent, Lindsay Colas,” she added. “[She] has just been amazing for me and my family throughout this process. So, today, my family is whole.”

Brittney Griner Finally Freed From Russian Prison In Exchange For Arms Dealer

Updated 12/08/2022 at 1:52 pm by Chris Samuel

Finally Free

Griner was released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. President Biden announced the news on Thursday morning. Biden also added that she should be home within 24 hours after she lands in the United Arab Emirates and flies to the United States.

While incarcerated, Griner was honored by her teamthe Phoenix Mercury, with a decal on the court. Meanwhile, former NBA star Dennis Rodman also made an effort to bring her back home.

Since February, Griner had been detained in Russia and was found guilty of marijuana oil possession. This led to her being sentenced to nine years.

WNBA Player Brittney Griner Now Transferred To Russian Penal Colony

Updated 11/09/2022 at 2:00 pm by Aevum Caelum

According to ESPN, WNBA Phoenix Mercury star center Brittney Griner was transferred to a Russian penal colony.

The news followed after U.S. Embassy officials visited her in an attempt to free her. It also marked four months since the famed women’s basketball player was incarcerated in Russia since first pleading guilty to smuggling hashish oil into Moscow in July.

Secretary of State Antony Blink called the transfer “another injustice layered on her ongoing unjust and wrongful detention.”

Brittney Griner’s Defense Team Files Appeal; Attorney “Confident” About Prisoner Swap

Griner’s legal team had appealed her nine-year sentenceincluding discussing a potential prisoner swap.

Sensitive Issues

Griner’s lawyer informed CNN of this development. It came after the Russian government confirmed discussions about a potential prisoner swap involving a convicted Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

Bout’s attorney said they are “’confident” a prisoner swap with the US will happen.

In response to reports that US officials sent proposals to Moscow on swapping Bout for Griner and Whelan, Aleksandr Darchiev, a high-ranking Russian diplomat, said:

In addition, a US State Department spokesperson said:

Alexander Boykov, Griner’s lawyer, said the verdict appeal and potential prisoner swap conversations would operate independently.

Brittney Griner Fans Outraged By 9-Year Sentencing

Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of drug possession in Russia.

Judge Anna Sotnikikova also ordered her to pay over $16,000 in fines.

After the judgment, US President Joe Biden and the WNBA and NBA commissioners, Cathy Englerment and Adam Silver, released a statement in response.

Additional reporting by Michael Omoruan and Chris Samuel.