U.S. officials say Moscow had been pushing for the release of a Russian assassin being held in Germany before finally agreeing to release Ms. Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer.
Tag: Political Prisoners
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Griner’s Detention Showed the Strength and the Struggle in Women’s Sports
The W.N.B.A.’s players and fans pushed furiously for Brittney Griner’s release from a Russian penal colony, but her plight also highlighted gender inequities in sports.
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In the Deal to Free Griner, Putin Used a Familiar Lever: Pain
By seizing the basketball star, the Russian president made things so painful for the U.S. that it capitulated and turned over a convicted arms dealer. Can the same tactic work in the war in Ukraine?
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Brittney Griner’s Release Puts a Spotlight on Paul Whelan
Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive, was arrested at a Moscow hotel in December 2018. President Biden says his administration is still working on getting him released.