Video of Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout swap from Russian state media
Images verified by The New York Times show Ms. Griner being swapped for arms dealer Viktor Bout on the tarmac at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.
The video shows Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout in the Prisoner Exchange
Footage broadcast by Russian state media shows American basketball star Brittney Griner and notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout exchanging hands in the U.A.E. airport tarmac.
By Yonette Joseph and Kaly Soto
December 8, 2022
Russian state media released a video Thursday of the prisoner exchange of Brittney Griner, the American W.N.B.A. star, and Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer known as the “merchant of death” at an airport in the United Arab Emirates.
The video, which has been verified by The New York Times, shows Ms. Griner, wearing a red jacket and pants, walking with three men in suits toward another man and Mr. Bout, who is clutching a brown envelope and holding a coat over one. arm. Ms. Griner’s hair is closely cropped, with no sign of her trademark dreadlocks.
One man gives Mr. Bout his hand and hugs him, then another man shakes his hand as well. Ms. Griner then turns to another group of men, including one dressed in flowing robes who looks like a U.A.E. official when they shake her hand.
In the background, a white jet with open steps stands on the tarmac at Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport as the prisoner exchange takes place.
The images released by Russian news channels are from a series of video clips of the various stages of Ms Griner’s release. It was unclear when all the scenes took place.
In footage released by Russian state broadcaster RT, an unidentified woman who appears to be a prison guard says to Ms Griner in Russian: “Will you come here for a visit? Yes? Great, come visit!”
Video shows Brittney Griner leaving Russian custody
Russian state media footage shows the American basketball player leaving prison and later boarding a plane.
And in a video posted to the Telegram message app by Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti, Ms Griner is shown boarding a plane in the snow with a bag.
As soon as she takes her seat, an unknown person asks her: “How are you feeling?
She replies, “Happy.”
