The Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout prisoner swap is complete, and we now have video evidence of the exchange.
On Thursday morning, it was announced that the USA and Russia had agreed to exchange Griner for the arms dealer known as the “merchant of death.”
BREAKING: Brittney Griner released by Russia in 1-for-1 prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout, U.S. official says https://t.co/oa6fEPHtM9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 8, 2022
Via CBS
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“She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home,” President Biden said at the White House, announcing the exchange. “After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along. This is a day we’ve worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release.”
Russian state media released a video of the exchange that took place at UAE airport.
Russian state media release footage of the Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout prisoner swap: https://t.co/TuMxKvMmmI pic.twitter.com/xVgtQjrGbf
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 8, 2022
President Biden went on to thank the UAE for facilitating the exchange.
Via Middle East Eye
The United Arab Emirates has facilitated the release of American basketball player Brittney Griner from Russia, US President Joe Biden said on Thursday, in an exchange deal with notorious arms deal Viktor Bout.
The athlete was released following a prisoner swap for Bout, a Russian citizen, who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.
Biden thanked the UAE “for helping us facilitate Brittney’s return, because that’s where she landed” on her way back to the US.
Saudi Arabia and UAE said in a joint statement that mediation efforts by their leaders had led to the swap between Griner and Bout, both of whom landed in Abu Dhabi today.