Russian media released a video from the airport of the prisoner swap between WNBA star Brittney Griner and arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Brittney Griner is on her way home after 10 months in Russian custody and now we can watch the moment she officially left Russian custody.
On Thursday, Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout were brought to an air base in the United Arab Emirates for the swap.
A video released by Russian state media showed how it all went down.
Watch the prisoner swap bringing Brittney Griner home
Video of Griner - Bout swap at #UAE airbase as released by #Russia’s media pic.twitter.com/NBEphlxJPF
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) December 8, 2022
Here’s an additional video of Griner on the plane before the swap.
Video released by Russian State media shows a very happy BG boarding a plane before she was released into US custody pic.twitter.com/XIzB85S0IH
— Jadé (@JadeALawson) December 8, 2022
It’s good to see Griner happy and it’ll be even better to see her back home on U.S. soil and with her family. It’s been a long road to this moment.
The WNBA star was initially detained in February while returning to Russia to play for her basketball club in the Russian Premier League, as many women’s basketball players do in the WNBA offseason. She was stopped by customs officials because of vape cartridges in her luggage containing hashish oil. Facing smuggling charges, she was put on trial in July and sentenced to nine years in prison in August.
The U.S. government was engaged in talks with Russia over a potential prisoner swap all the while. The deal was finally done on Thursday, much to the relief of Griner’s WNBA peers as well as athletes and fans from around the country.