No good deed goes unpunished: Biden has his doze of criticism over Brittney Griner release

The United States and Russia exchanged prisoners Viktor Bout and Brittney Griner. In Russia, it is sold as a victory, correspondent Eva Hartog sees: “a Russian citizen comes back to the homeland again.”There is criticism in the US. “This is giving in to political blackmail in a nonsensical case,” says correspondent Erik Mouthaan.

How was it again? At the beginning of this year, Brittney Griner, the best American basketball player, was arrested at the Moscow airport. She had banned cannabis oil in her suitcase. Striking is the time when all this happened: a week before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The US immediately felt wetness. Russia would use Griner as a pawn to blackmail. Later it became clear that the Russians were open to an exchange of prisoners. Russia wanted Viktor Bout, A Russian arms dealer convicted in the US, to be released.

“A prisoner exchange is not new to the US,” says Mouthaan. “All presidents choose it. The U.S. does, but reluctantly.”What makes it so special this time is that the Americans find this case so nonsensical. “The whole Griner case is a show trial with only one goal of Russia: to thwart the US. But yes, Griner was very well known. The pressure to get her out was enormous.”

Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for possessing cannabis oil. “In the US it is legal. Such a severe punishment for such a light offense, the Americans feel Bought,” Says Mouthaan. Especially when you see what the notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout is up to. “The U.S. has fought hard to get Bout behind bars. The Russians sold weapons that killed Americans. President Biden’s negotiating tactics are therefore critical.”

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