American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was convicted in Russia for importing drugs, was exchanged for Russian Viktor Bout, who was sentenced in the United States to 25 years in prison for illegal arms trafficking (he served 12 years in prison). This is reported by CNN, BBC and other media. The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed to TASS that Bout had returned to the country.
The exchange procedure took place at the Abu Dhabi airport. Both Bout and Greiner were pardoned before the exchange, they do not have to serve the rest of the sentence in their homeland, Ivan Melnikov, vice president of the Russian division of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, told TASS.
U.S. President Joe Biden has already spoken to Griner on the phone: “Just recently, I spoke with Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on the plane. She's flying home." Bout is also on the plane on his way to Moscow.
In late July, the Biden administration offered to exchange Bout for Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who were detained in Russia, CNN reported , citing sources. After the news of the exchange between countries, Whelan's brother stated that his family was disappointed that he was not included in the prisoner exchange program.
In February, Greiner, who arrived from New York, was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport. During the inspection of hand luggage, vapes with a liquid with a specific smell were found in her. The examination found that there was hash oil inside. The UK opened a criminal case on drug smuggling, which provides for up to ten years in prison. Greiner is one of the most titled basketball players in the world. She was a two-time Olympian and a two-time world champion with Team USA, and a WNBA champion with Phoenix in 2014. She is included in the official list of the 25 best players in the women's NBA. She has been playing for the Yekaterinburg UMMC since 2015.
Viktor Bout was detained in 2008 in Bangkok on a warrant issued by a local court at the request of the United States. He was accused of illegally supplying weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia group. In 2010, Bout was extradited to the United States. In April 2012, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a $15 million fine.