A aircraft carrying Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who spent months imprisoned in Russia on drug fees, landed within the U.S. on Friday morning.
Griner was launched following a prisoner change for infamous Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout introduced Thursday.
Griner arrived in Kelly Area, San Antonio, in her dwelling state of Texas.
A senior administration official informed CNBC she can be taken to a medical facility, the place she can be reunited along with her spouse, Cherelle Griner.
“She was in very, excellent spirits when she acquired off the aircraft and seemed to be, clearly, in good well being,” John Kirby, the Nationwide Safety Council coordinator for strategic communications on the White Home, informed NBC’s “In the present day.”
Roger D. Carstens, the U.S. particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs, welcomed her return.
“So blissful to have Brittney again on U.S. soil,” Carstens wrote on Twitter.
Footage launched by Russian state media confirmed the two-time Olympic Gold medalist aboard the aircraft, saying she was “blissful” to be going dwelling.
The second the prisoner change between Russia and the U.S. passed off was reportedly captured on digicam by Russian state media, which launched edited video that appeared to point out Griner and Bout crossing paths on the tarmac at Al Bateen Govt Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February over police allegedly discovering vape canisters containing hashish oil in her suitcase. Griner admitted to having the vape canisters, however mentioned she packed them by chance and had no intention to interrupt the regulation.
One other wrongfully detained American in Russia, former Marine Paul Whelan, was not a part of the change deal between the 2 nations.
“For completely illegitimate causes, Russia has handled Paul’s case completely different from Brittney’s,” U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned, including that he'll proceed working to safe Whelan’s launch.
Former President Donald Trump criticized the prisoner swap that secured Griner’s launch, calling it “a ‘silly’ and unpatriotic embarrassment for the USA!!!” for not together with Whelan.
He additionally mentioned Griner “overtly hates our Nation” resulting from her participation in protests for racial justice in 2020.
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