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Recently exempted WNBA player Brittney GrinerThe 32-year-old was caught on video returning to US custody after being freed from Russian prison on December 8. The athlete wore a red zipped flannel jacket and a gray beanie on her journey home. Remarkably, she also wore a new haircut as her long dreadlocks were gone. When asked how she was feeling, she simply replied “happy,” along with a big smile. That Videoreleased by Russian state media also showed someone off-camera asking Brittney if she was “ready” to fly, to which she replied “yes.”
A video released by Russian state media shows a very happy BG boarding a plane before being released into US custody pic.twitter.com/XIzB85S0IH
— Jade (@JadeALawson) December 8, 2022
The 32-year-old was on her way back to the US when she also encountered a Russian arms dealer Victor fight55, during the exchange of prisoners between the two countries (watch VIDEO HERE). The two passed each other as they walked on the tarmac at UAE airport. Viktor was seen shaking hands with some people and he even apparently nodded to Brittney before she walked away to greet others.
At the airport, Brittney was surrounded by several men in suits and Viktor approached the men with only one man at his side. The 55-year-old was also seen sporting a Manila envelope as he crossed paths with the Texas native. The men escorting Brittney were also seen presenting her with two duffel bags to be shipped to the United States with her back
Brittney and Viktor’s prisoner swap comes nearly 10 months after she was arrested by Russian officials for possessing hash oil at the airport, per The New York Times. She was arrested on February 17 and found guilty on August 4 of “large-scale drug transport.” The Olympic gold medalist was also convicted of “deliberately bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia, despite being illegal,” per Reuters.
After being sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia, Brittney appealed. However, on October 25, her appeal was rejected by the Russian courts. Your lawyers spoke with you The New York Times at the time of rejection and spoke on her behalf. “We generally believe that we must use all available legal remedies, particularly given the harsh and unprecedented nature of her sentence,” they said. president Joe Biden She was also reportedly working on the prisoner exchange since July, and was finally due to return home on December 8. “I was talking to Brittney Griner earlier. She is safe. She’s on an airplane. She’s on her way home,” Biden wrote via twitteralong with photos of him with Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner.
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