Biden’s authorization to merchandise Bout, the Russian felon erstwhile nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” underscored the heightened urgency that his medication faced to get Griner home, peculiarly aft the caller solution of her transgression lawsuit connected cause charges and her consequent transportation to a penal colony.
Griner was seen getting disconnected a level that landed Friday astatine Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland successful Texas.
The athlete, who besides played pro hoops successful Russia, was arrested astatine an airdrome determination successful February aft Russian authorities said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil. Before her conviction, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to beryllium “wrongfully detained” — a complaint that Russia has sharply rejected.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday’s swap, saying successful a connection carried by Russian quality agencies that the speech took spot successful Abu Dhabi and Bout had been flown home.
Biden spoke by telephone with Griner. U.S. officials said she would beryllium offered specialized aesculapian services and counseling.
In releasing Bout, the U.S. freed a erstwhile Soviet Army lieutenant colonel whom the Justice Department erstwhile described arsenic 1 of the world’s astir prolific arms dealers. He was arrested successful Thailand successful 2008 and extradited to the U.S. successful 2010.
Bout was serving a 25-year condemnation connected charges that helium conspired to merchantability tens of millions of dollars successful weapons that U.S officials said were to beryllium utilized against Americans.
Following Griner’s apprehension astatine Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport successful February, she pleaded blameworthy successful July but inactive faced proceedings due to the fact that admitting guilt successful Russia’s judicial strategy does not automatically extremity a case.
She acknowledged successful tribunal that she possessed canisters with cannabis lipid but said she had nary transgression intent and she accidentally packed them. Her defence squad presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to dainty pain.
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