On December 8th, 2022, WNBA player Brittney Griner was freed from Russia's prison and traded with Viktor Bout (the "Merchant of Death" by many), a Russian arms dealer who was arrested for conspiracy to kill Americans, arms trafficking, and selling weapons to rebel groups around the world. Griner was imprisoned since Feburary of 2022, and returned to the US today on December 9th, 2022.
Griner was originally arrested in Russia for reportedly carrying a vape that used cannabis oil. Russian officials confirmed that the swap took place. The swap took place at Abu Dhabi, where Bout and Griner were traded off. Russian media shows that his wife and daughter were there to greet him when he arrived in Moscow.
Griner's return was greeted with relief by members of her WNBA team. Griner's wife greeted her upon her return.
However, not everyone was happy with this exchange. American prisoner and former Marine Paul Whelan was arrested and sentenced for nine years (serving four) for alleged espionage, that the US government denies. Whelan was not allowed to be released for this exchange, saying the decision was a "one or nothing" choice. Paul's brother, David Whelan, said, "I think we all realize that the math is not going to work out for Paul to come home anytime soon, unless the U.S. government is able to find concessions."
The family shows their concerns of whether or not Paul will be able to come home other than serving his nine year sentence, although they believe President Joe Biden made the right choice to trade Griner for Bout. Paul wishes more could be done for his release.
"We've not forgotten about Paul Whelan. we will never give up on securing his release." - US President Joe Biden
Many families in the US are also concerned for the imprisoned beyond Russia. In China, three detainees, Kai Li, Mark Swidan, and David Lin are all considered "wrongful detainees" by the US government. The son of Kai Li, Harrison Li, said that Biden should "act much more quickly and much more forcefully and with the same urgency that [he] did with the Griner case."
The mother of Mark Swidan believes that the Chinese detainees in the US could be used to be traded for her son's freedom.
The Biden administration claims to be working to "secure the release of Americans wrongfully detained in the PRC."
Harrison believes that it's "just empty rhetoric" adding that he is not "aware that a prisoner trade has been seriously proposed to the Chinese government."
We await further news.
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