WNBA star Brittney Griner spent approximately 10 months in a Russian prison before her return to the United States in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” was serving a 25-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison for conspiracy to kill Americans, related to his support for a Colombian terrorist organization. His notoriety came from operating a fleet of Soviet-era cargo planes that transported goods to conflict zones in Africa, a story that inspired the movie “Lord of War” starring Nicolas Cage.
The swap raised controversy among some Americans who believed the U.S. gave up too much for Griner’s release. Griner had faced criticism for her earlier stance on the national anthem not being played before sporting events, although she later changed her position.
Criticism was also directed at American officials, including President Biden, for not including Paul Whelan in the exchange. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges he claims are false.
Many Americans considered Griner’s nine-year sentence for drug charges in Russia to be excessively harsh.
Bout drew parallels between his U.S. sentence and Griner’s imprisonment in Russia, noting the public outrage in both cases. He highlighted the absence of a direct Russian legal equivalent to the term “conspiracy.”
The exchange between Bout and Griner took place in December. Bout described the process, where the two planes were brought together, instructions were given, and the exchange occurred. He expressed his willingness to discuss the exchange openly, as he believes it is essential for normalizing relations between Russia and the U.S.
Bout expressed hope for improved economic and people-to-people relations between the two countries in the future.
Despite her ordeal, Griner continued to excel in her basketball career, earning her eighth All-Star selection and maintaining strong performance statistics in the WNBA.