Britney Griner has released her first statement since her release from a Russian penal colony.
Griner was arrested in Moscow in February after hash oil cartridges were discovered in her luggage. She was freed this week as part of a prisoner exchange agreement in which U.S. authorities who released convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to President Biden and his administration for the tireless work they did to bring Brittney home,” the Griner family wrote in a statement. “We would also like to extend a special thank you to Governor Richardson and Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center for their work, as well as remaining in constant communication with us.”
“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 statement continued. “We pray for Paul and for the swift and safe return of all wrongfully detained Americans. We ask that you respect our privacy as we embark on this road to healing.”
Welcome home, Brittney!
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