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August 04, 2022, Moscow, Russia: US Olympic basketball champion Brittney Griner attends the verdict announcement at the Khimki Municipal Court in the town of Khimki, northeast of Moscow. Griner has been found guilty of smuggling and possession of drugs and sentenced to nine years in prison (Credit Image: © Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS via ZUMA Press) (Newscom TagID: zumaamericasthirtyfive090824.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]

via Imago
August 04, 2022, Moscow, Russia: US Olympic basketball champion Brittney Griner attends the verdict announcement at the Khimki Municipal Court in the town of Khimki, northeast of Moscow. Griner has been found guilty of smuggling and possession of drugs and sentenced to nine years in prison (Credit Image: © Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS via ZUMA Press) (Newscom TagID: zumaamericasthirtyfive090824.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]
Relations between the United States and Russia have been frosty for decades. The two countries always remain on edge when it comes to dealing with each other. As a result of the frigidity, a number of people have been caught in the crossfires. One of them was the WNBA player, Brittney Griner. However, her fans have positive news to look forward to.
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The case of Brittney Griner was one of the hottest news that hit the world in 2022. With all that was going on between Russia and Ukraine, her detention by Russian immigration officials in February came to the attention of the public.
Brittney Griner says she’s happy to be released in footage from plane: pic.twitter.com/UXvFDRUXnX
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 8, 2022
Griner is one of the most decorated WNBA players in the history of the sport, having won 2 Olympic gold medals and 2 World Cup gold medals in her career, amongst a long list of other trophies and achievements. On her way to play in the Russian national league during the WNBA off-season, a league she had won on multiple occasions, she was detained for possession of narcotics.
Griner was in possession of a vape that contained hashish oil. The drug charge was admitted to by the player in her trial, leading to a sentence of 9 years in prison in Russia. She was being detained in a penal colony in the country.

However, after months-long talks at the highest level, between Secretary of State Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, she was finally released. Her release came as a result of an agreed prisoner swap – a convicted arms dealer of Russian origin going the other way.
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With the new development, social media users took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
Fans discuss the release of Brittney Griner
While Griner?s release was a big win for her wife and POTUS Biden, it came at a huge cost. NASCAR journalist Dave Moody asked an important question.
Happy to hear that WNBA star Brittney Griner will be released from a Russian penal colony in exchange for a convicted terrorist. But can’t help wondering what made her a priority over former Marine Paul Whelan, imprisoned after what virtually all parties agree was a sham trial.
— . (@Karrion_WWE) December 8, 2022
Social media has been fired up.
One fought for our country and committed no crime. One hates this country and committed a crime. The second gets released. The swap is for a weapons dealer, known terrorist worldwide. Nothing to see here folks. 😞
— Garth Norris (@G_Norris03) December 8, 2022
Simple he is a White Male who risk his live for the freedom we have! Brittney with all her pronouns and well you know she hates America and our National Anthem! Enough said! Easy discussion? https://t.co/hPPBLoX3qK
— D43Myers (@d43myers) December 8, 2022
Many social media users made their opinions known.
https://twitter.com/StanleyNormoyle/status/1601012416795463681
Russia has long stated that it considers Whelan as a greater threat.
— Patrick Kelley, CISSP, ITIL, CEH (HTCIA) (@PKELLEY2600) December 8, 2022
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Respectfully Dave, I don’t think you’re asking the right question. Russia charged him with espionage, so the question is; what is Russia asking for in exchange for a prisoner that 2 US Presidents have been unable/unwilling to agree to?
— Shaun (@cdnracingtours) December 8, 2022
So many people also posed several questions on social media.
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Is this really something that the country should be rejoicing about?
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