As her trial neared its end in early August, it became public that the U.S. had put a prisoner swap offer on the table. July 27: During the first day Griner testified at her trial, sherecounted the day of her arrest and said the interpreter did not provide a full translation, explaining she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate with a customs officer. NBC News reported in July that the U.S.proposeda prisoner exchangefor the release of Griner and Whelan, who has been detained since 2018. According to CNN, the Biden administration "repeatedly made offers to get Whelan as part of this deal - even after Russia made clear only Griner was acceptable." The prosecution questioned two witnesses on Day 1, an airport customs official and an unidentified witness, with only the former speaking in open court, per the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti. In a written statement Thursday night, the Griner family thanked Biden, his administration and others for their work. Reed and his family have maintained his innocence, and the U.S. government described him as unjustly imprisoned. The court also fined Griner 1 million rubles ($16,301). President Joe Biden decided to trade the 'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout for the WNBA player. Whelan is serving a 16-year prison sentence after he was accused of spying, which the U.S. has denied. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Brittney Griner, the American WNBA player who was tried in Russian court for drug smuggling after bringing cannabis oil into the country, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday . Analysts say that the basketball player will face harsh conditions and her family in the U.S. may not even be allowed to know exactly where she is, according to the New York Post. He was freed in a prisoner exchange in which Biden commuted the sentence of Konstantin Yaroshenko, a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving time in Connecticut, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2010. . "She had hopes for today, as each month, each day away from her family and friends matters to her.". WASHINGTON WNBA star Brittney Grinerwas free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer, according to a senior administration official. A Division of NBCUniversal. CBS News reported the defense team called another forensic expert, Dmitry Gladyshev, to testify on the stand. Aug. 13: For the first time since Griner's detainment, Russian officials confirmedthey were undergoing negotiations with the U.S. government regarding a potential prisoner swap involving Bout that could bring Griner home. President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul . The WNBA star made her return to the U.S. after spending 10 months in prison in Russia, and was photographed for the first time on Dec. 9. Griner also said she was also not offered an explanation of her rights or given access to lawyers while being instructed to sign documents. Griner, an eight-time all-star . In order to obtain Griner's release, President Joe Biden authorized Bout to be released from prison and returned him to Russia. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been taken to penal colony IK-2 in the Russian region of Mordovia, her lawyers said in a statement Thursday.. Griner is nearing her ninth month in detention after . U.S. officials at the embassy in Moscow visited imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner Thursday after Russian authorities rejected her appeal of a nine-year prison sentence last month. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. A Moscow court sentenced WNBA player Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison on drug charges, raising the stakes in deadlocked talks between Russia and the US o. AboutPressCopyrightContact. Earlier this month, Cherelle Griner told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King that she was terrified of the WNBA star's fate. Last month, Griner pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had unintentionally packed the cannabis canisters in her suitcase because she was in a hurry. IE 11 is not supported. The White House confirmed Griner's safety and posted a video of President Biden speaking to Griner on the phone. Cherelle Griner, speaking after Biden, expressed her "sincere gratitude" to Biden and several other officials whom she mentioned by name for their work. April 27: U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed is released from Russian custody in a prisoner exchange, which is seen as a positive sign for Griner's potential release. President Joe Biden with Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, in an image released Thursday. Brittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was found guilty of drug charges in Russia and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in August . "I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. Cherelle said the two had not verbally communicated in over 100 days, as her wife's phone was taken away shortly after she entered police custody. More from NBC News: Griner's release marks a stunning turn of events from last month, when she began serving a nine-year sentence at a Russian penal colony more than 200 miles east of Moscow . Florida's Fourth Estate: Barton Beef (12-02-22) Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer . The. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Brittney Griner, a player for the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team and a seven-time WNBA All-Star center, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after customs agents . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: wnba | pageType: stories | WASHINGTON (AP) Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout . The deal was reached about a week ago, an official said, after the Biden administration floated a number of proposals to secure the release of both Griner and Whalen all of which Russia rejected. Griner was sentenced to nine years. US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during a court hearing to consider an appeal against her sentence at the Moscow regional court on October 25, 2022. Brittney was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in a Russian penal colony after she was arrested for possessing marijuana vape cartridges in February. Kalugina says this is despite Russian authorities saying they will "create all conditions" for a visit to occur. At the time, Griner was returning to play for a Russian team during the WNBA's offseason. Griner said the canisters, which she had been prescribed to treat chronic pain, were packed inadvertently as she hurriedly prepared for her flight. The Joe Biden administration negotiated a one-for-one prisoner swap involving convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The Biden administration quietly told the family of Paul Whelan, a US Marine veteran who has been in Russian custody since 2018, that he would not be included in a prisoner swap on Thursday that freed WNBA player Brittney Griner.Evidence has revealed that the administration prioritized the WNBA star, who had been detained for nearly 10 months and had just begun her 9-year sentence, over the . Griner's arrest in February came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine. According to TASS, Griner said in court she understood the charges but declined to immediately comment on them. Griner tried to appeal her more than nine-year prison sentence, but the Russian court rejected her attempt to get out from under the sentence. is, it feels to me as if she's a hostage," Cherelle said. Biden reassured her wife that he is working to secure Griner's release as soon as possible, according to a White House readout of the call. I'm like, 'In no world did I ever thought, you know, our president and a foreign nation president would be sitting down having to discuss the freedom of my wife.' We want to hear from you. / CBS/AP. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) 4 min read. Griner pleaded guilty at her trial in July but said she had no criminal intent. Getty. March 5: The State Department urged American citizens to immediately leave Russia to avoid the "potential for harassment" in anupdated advisory. WNBA star Brittney Griner a generational talent on the court WNBA star Brittney Griner's 10-month imprisonment in Russia on drug charges came to an end on Thursday, spreading relief and joy. Got a confidential news tip? 12:45 pm ET, I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner swap Thursday. "We've made a proposal, and we urge the Russians to move positively on that proposal so we can get these two individuals home.". June 26: Griner attends a preliminary hearing and her detention is extended six months, her fourth extension. Under Russian law, the charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Nov. 17 (UPI) -- WNBA star Brittney Griner has been moved to a Russian penal colony to serve out her sentence after she was detained in a Moscow airport in February and convicted of smuggling . Updated on: August 4, 2022 / 7:09 PM / CBS/AP. US Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, holds a picture of her team as she stands inside a defendants cage before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, on August 4, 2022. Nov. 9: Griner gets transferred to a Russian penal colony with her exact whereabouts unknown. The Mercury center was arrested Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow, where Russian officials said they discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. The 31-year-old Griner, who plays professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was arrested in February at a Russian airport on accusations that she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil. Griner was first detained on February 17. "I never meant to hurt anybody," Griner said following closing arguments, according to NBC News. First published on October 25, 2022 / 5:49 AM. They slammed the White House for not securing the release of Whelan and for letting Bout go free, arguing it will give incentives to bad actors like Russia and North Korea to arrest more Americans to be used as bargaining chips. U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during a court hearing to consider an appeal against her sentence, at the Moscow regional court on October 25, 2022. WNBA player Brittney Griner has now been moved to a Russian forced labor camp to complete her 9-1/2-year prison sentence after being convicted on drug charges in Moscow. Sept. 16: Biden met with Cherelle Griner, as well as with Griner's agent, Lindsay Colas. Oct. 16:Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told Rossiya-1 -- a state-owned Russian television channel -- that reaching a deal regarding Griner is not currently a priority. The process led Silver to communicate with "every level" of government. June 14: Griner's pre-trial detention gets extended for a third time. Whelan, described as a corporate security director, has been serving a 16-year prison sentence since 2020 for espionage charges. 42 jersey numberon every court around the league. Alexander Zemlianichenko | AFP | Getty Images, Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home, in a prisoner exchange with the United States. Blinken didn't elaborate, but The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the "merchant of death.". "We sincerely thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers including Paul and the Whelan family who have been generous with their support for Brittney and our family during what we know is a heartbreaking time," the family said. Days before she pleaded guilty last month, Griner penned a letter to Biden asking for his direct help with her case. But more especially, Griner presented Russia with a high-profile political victory against the United States and her conviction was a welcome jab at the U.S. as far as Putins government is concerned. The deal did not include Whelan. State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the Biden administration is continuing to push for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, both American citizens the . But if she does, women's basketball will get back a generational talent. Many of the WNBA's brightest stars, who typically play in Russia . The U.S. and Russia carried out a prisoner swap in April. "I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever," the professional athlete wrote in a July 5 letter. The American WNBA player Brittney Griner has been released from the Russian prison she has been held in since February after the Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap. recognized as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, was returning to Russia . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Andrea Mitchell is chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News. "It's unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," Biden wrote in a statement. The newspaper speculated that another possible candidate was Roman Seleznev, the son of a Russian lawmaker. WASHINGTON A Russian court on Thursday found Brittney Griner guilty of drug charges and sentenced her to nine years in prison, as the U.S. government scrambles to secure the WNBA star's release. "She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along. One of them was Maxim Rybakov, director of Griner's Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg, and the other was teammate Evgeniia Beliakova. As tensions between the U.S. and Russia continue to rise amid the latter's invasion of Ukraine, an American WNBA star has been detained in Russia for months.Brittney Griner, the two-time Olympic gold-medalist who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off-season, was arrested on drug charges in February after customs found vape cartridges in . . 42 jersey number, he and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert are working "side-by-side" in securing Griner's release, Griner received hundreds of emails and letters from players around the WNBA. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. The move is one of the highest-profile prisoner swaps between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, with the Kremlin recovering Viktor Bout, whom Russian President Vladimir Putin has been wanting to get back and who had served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the U.S. ", "I'm proud that today we have made one more family whole," Biden said, adding that he will continue to work to free Whelan. Griner, 32, of the Phoenix Mercury, was the subject of prolonged and often public negotiations after a trial that underscored frayed relations amid Russias war in Ukraine. . . All Rights Reserved. March 18: Ekaterina Kalugina, a representative of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission that oversees how prisoners are treated, said the U.S. consul had yet to visit Griner. Vinnik was arrested in Greece in 2017 and extradited to the U.S. in August. In April, Russia agreed to release former U.S. Marine Trevor Reedin a prisoner exchange with the United States. Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout at a detention center in Bangkok in 2008. He said she appeared to look and feel well. Brittney Griner is back in the U.S. Friday following her nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug charges. WNBA player Brittney Griner has now been moved to a Russian forced labor camp to complete her 9-1/2-year prison sentence after being convicted on drug charges in Moscow. Embed. A Russian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, a step that could move her closer to a possible high-stakes prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been moved to a Russian forced labor camp, nearly nine months after the basketball player was arrested in Russia for allegedly possessing cannabis oil. 6-keys: media/spln/wnba/reg/free/stories. For Reed's release, Biden agreed to free Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States. order cutting short Bout's 25-year federal prison sentence. Last month, Biden signed an executive order that will expand the administration's available tools to deter hostage-taking and the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. "My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible," the president added. Joe Bidens White House has been entirely powerless to do anything about Griners situation, despite the constant pressure from the sports world to do something to get the basketball player released. Yuliya Talmazan is a London-based journalist. Moscow also has pushed for the release of other Russians in U.S. custody. I really hope that the court will adjust this sentence, because it's been very, very stressful and very traumatic to my mental and psyche, being away from my family and not being able to communicate.". Bout was sentenced to 25 years in federal prisonin 2012 after he was convicted of selling arms to Colombian rebels, which prosecutors said were intended to kill Americans. The WNBA and NBA, as well as politicians and athletes across the country, reacted Thursday to the news that Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison . The WNBA said on Thursday it was working with the U.S. government to get All-Star Brittney Griner freed from a Russian prison after the TASS news agency said her detention for possession of vape . Griners return will cap a monthslong saga that began in February, when she was detained at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and Griner's lawyers argued after the conviction that the punishment was excessive. While upholding the sentence, the court said Griner's prison time will be recalculated to reflect what she has already served in pre-trial detention. Biden also wrote a response to Griner that U.S. diplomats hand-delivered in Moscow. President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul Whelan, a U.S. corporate security executive who remains jailed in Russia. At that appeal, a Russian court upheld their sentence with a prosecutor calling it "fair." On 17 November, Griner was relocated to a penal colony in Mordovia, about 350 kilometers (210 miles . The White House said after the meetings that the president stressed to the families his "continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.". WNBA star Brittney Griner has pled guilty to drug charges in a Russian court and now faces a prison sentence of 10 years. After receiving the letter, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called the WNBA star's wife, Cherelle Griner. He was later sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said publicly the U.S. government had put a "substantial proposal on the table" but did not confirm the reports regarding Bout. "We pray for Paul and for the swift and safe return of all wrongfully-detained Americans. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appears on a screen via video link from a detention center before a court hearing to consider her appeal of her prison sentence on Oct. 25, 2022. The 31-year-old Griner, who plays professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was arrested in February at a Russian airport on accusations she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil. U.S. women's basketball star Brittney Griner now faces 9 years in a Russian prison. WASHINGTON WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her nine-year sentence for drug possession at a Russian penal colony, her lawyers and agent said Thursday . The White House said it has not yet received a productive response from Russia to the offer. Biden said that he was "glad to be able to say Brittney is in good spirits.". The American basketball player . However, some players are fearful of returning to Russia due to issues surrounding Brittney Griner's lengthy prison sentence. Im telling you, I am determined to get her home and get her home safely along with others, I might add, Biden said Nov. 9. Updated on: October 25, 2022 / 7:08 PM The top U.S. diplomat also said he would discuss the offer with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in what would be the first known conversation between the two since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. May 2: The WNBA announces it will honor Griner by installing adecal featuring her initials and No. Feb. 24: Russia launched a full-scale military attack against Ukraine, prompting the U.S. and other countries to issue severe sanctions against Russia. Griner was detained in February at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. Moscow released U.S. Marines veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Nov. 17: Lawyers confirm Griner was moved to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia. appeal of her prison sentence is rejected, confirm Griner was moved to a penal colony, Brittney Griner cut locs off due to Russian winter, Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in swap, Young, Bird, and others react to Griner being released, Brittney Griner coming home | Padres land Bogaerts, Blinken: Griner prisoner swap talks are 'ongoing', WNBA releases 2023 regular-season schedule. Cherelle Griner told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. Since Thursday the prisoner swap had reportedly been negotiated. May 25: Cherelle Griner spoke about the situation in a "Good Morning America" interview -- her first televised interview since Brittney Griner was detained. Russian media has speculated that Washington could exchange Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the United States for conspiring to sell. May 3: The U.S. governmentdeclared Griner "wrongfully detained" and reportedly enlisted the help of former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has several years of experience as an international hostage negotiator. The executive order, known as "Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home," will authorize the imposition of financial sanctions and visa bans on people involved in hostage-taking. Bout will escape 25 years of federal prison time. The Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony, which is essentially a harsh prison camp descended from the infamous Stalin-era. During closing arguments, Russian prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to 9 years in prison and issue the 1 million ruble fine. The exchange took place on Dec. 8 in the United Arab Emirates after President Biden gave his final approval for the swap. Some conservatives, however, said Biden negotiated a bad deal. Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed the swap in a press release to agencies that Griner was swapped for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout. Rybakov told reporters it was the first time he'd seen Griner since February. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a . One day in pre-trial detention will be counted as 1 1/2 days in prison, so she still will have to serve about eight years in prison. Oct. 25: Griner's appeal of her prison sentence is rejected. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony after being sentenced to nine years in prison for allegedly possessing cannabis oil, according to the Associated Press. Griner, 32, was not at the Moscow Regional Court hearing but appeared via video link from a penal colony outside the capital where she is held. She was then set to remain in custody until at least July 2. "It's like a movie for me. Transcript. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In a statement Thursday, President Joe Biden called the prison sentence "unacceptable" and called for Griner's immediate release. WNBA star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail for drug-smuggling The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained. US' Women's National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and . U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during. American basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony by a Moscow court Thursday after she was convicted of drug smuggling, concluding a multi-month trial that. The hip-hop community is shocked after learning that WNBA player Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug possession charges. After a 10-month detainment in Russia and getting sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges, eight-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was allowed to return to the United States. "This is delicate work," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing. She was entering the. The swap marks the most prominent diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the U.S. and its allies firmly backed Kyiv and condemned the Kremlin for launching the war against Ukraine in February. The WNBA star, who was held for months in Russian prisons on drug . Reed was accused of assaulting a Russian police officer and detained by authorities there in 2019. There are some deep, dark holes in Russia where the government puts people and simply forgets about them. Reflecting growing pressure on the Biden administration to do more to bring Griner home, Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that Washington had made a "substantial proposal" to get Griner home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. Feb. 17: Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow when the Russian Federal Customs Service discovered vape cartridges containing marijuana concentrate hashish oil in her luggage. On Thursday (Aug. 4),. ", The family asked for privacy "as we embark on this road to healing.". The Biden administration has offered to. Griner landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas on Friday. During closing arguments, Russian prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to to 9 years in prison. Instead, shehad support from two character witnesses. section: | slug: brittney-griner-situation-explained-wnba-all-star-released-from-russian-custody-after-prisoner-swap | sport: wnba | route: article_single.us | He was sentenced in 2017 to 27 years in prison on charges from a hacking and credit card fraud scheme. https://t.co/iBADbk8mMX, The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) October 16, 2022. PHOENIX - WNBA star Brittney Griner's 10-month imprisonment in Russia on drug charges came to an end on Thursday, spreading relief and joy across sports world and beyond. While vaping cartridges such as the ones in her luggage would be ignored by many western countries, Russia still has strict laws against marijuana in any form. WNBA star Brittney Griner filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession. She was. "She is safe, she is on a plane, she is on her way home," Biden said Thursday morning at the White House. People familiar with the negotiations for his release say the Russians refused to free him without getting a Russian spy in return. July 14: Griner was expected to testify on the third day of her trial, but she didn't. US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner sits inside a defendants' cage before a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 27, 2022. The British government blamed Moscow for the poisoning. Griners wife, Cherelle Griner, was in the Oval Office with Biden, and the two were able to speak with her by phone, a senior administration official said. In September, Biden met with Cherelle Griner, the player's wife, Cherelle Griner, as well as her agent, Lindsay Colas. both of whom were serving out sentences in prisons in the United States and Russia respectively," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Biden also sat down separately with Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan's sister. A Russian court found WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty of drug charges on Thursday and sentenced her to to nine years in prison. ", "We greatly appreciate the ongoing efforts of the administration and U.S. Department of State in leading the negotiations," Engelbert said in a statement. It is the second publicly known U.S. prisoner swap with Russia since the war in Ukraine started. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. She shared the cell with two other English-speaking inmates, and both reportedly had no prior convictions and were being held for "drug-related articles," per NBC. Paul Whelan, a former Marine who was arrested on allegations of spying in 2018, at a hearing in Moscow on Aug. 23, 2019. A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for American basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession. "Well keep negotiating for Pauls relief. The U.S. Government is unwavering in its commitment to its work on behalf of Brittney and other Americans detained in Russia including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan, the statement concluded. They argued her punishment was "excessive.". Russian prosecutors accused Griner of knowingly breaking the law when she was caught with 0.7 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage while entering Russia in February. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the decision "another failure of justice, compounding the injustice of her detention," adding that "securing her release is our priority.". 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