American basketball player Brittney Griner, previously convicted in our country for nine years, was released from prison. The authorities pardoned the two-time Olympic champion in order to exchange her for a Russian citizen convicted in the United States – the exchange took place recently at Abu Dhabi airport. The campaign to release the 32-year-old athlete was very loud – it must be assumed that now in her native country they are looking forward to her speedy return.

But it cannot be ruled out that over time, joy will be replaced by disappointment, especially if the titled American takes up her old ways. For example, he will start protesting against the US anthem or, even worse, will return to work in Russia.

Pardoned and released

The idea to exchange the American basketball player Brittney Griner for the Russian citizen Viktor Bout was in the air for several months, but the matter did not reach the specifics. In the United States, they wanted to get several of their convicts at once for one Russian, in Russia they demanded a fair exchange in equal proportions. A high-profile campaign demanding the release of the athlete was tied by some American experts to local elections.

In reality, it turned out to be somewhat different: Greiner really managed to be exchanged, but after an important date for American politicians. For some, the news turned out to be so unexpected that thoughts arose – is this really a joke? But it didn’t even smell like a joke.

Brittney Greiner / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov

The exchange of the two-time Olympic champion for Viktor Bout at the Abu Dhabi airport was reported by CNN, citing its own sources. American President Joe Biden wrote on social networks that he had already spoken with the released WNBA star, and said that everything was fine with her. From the Russian side, the exchange was confirmed by human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, who noted that Bout and Greiner had been pardoned and could now move freely.

So now there is no doubt that 32-year-old Brittney is really at large. Instead of the nine years of imprisonment prescribed for the importation of narcotic drugs into Russia, she spent about nine months behind bars. Booth, for comparison, was imprisoned for almost a decade and a half.

“I’m going to protest”

Greiner’s problems began in February 2022 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, when drugs were found in her belongings. The athlete stated that she was not going to deliberately bring anything to Russia. She complained that marijuana cartridges are legal in the United States, and athletes often use them as a pain reliever on the recommendation of doctors. But in the end, she pleaded guilty.

The American probably hoped for a quick exchange – at first she cheerfully told that in prison, apart from the size of her bed, everything suits her. There are neighbors with knowledge of English, a TV with two dozen channels and even interesting books. However, it was impossible to endlessly read “Demons” and the history of the Rolling Stones – losing hope of returning home, the basketball player began to seriously panic.

Now there is nothing to worry about. In the coming months, Brittney will probably come to her senses, give out numerous interviews, maybe appear on a talk show. Expect her to return to the basketball court before the new WNBA season is hardly worth it. However, if nothing fatal has happened to the health of the center, you will probably still be able to see Greiner in action. And here it will be extremely curious to see if her opinion has not changed on a number of political issues.

Brittney Greiner / Photo: © Jean Catuffe / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“I sincerely believe that the national anthem should not be played during our season. I believe that we must firmly take this position. I’m going to protest no matter what. I won’t go out while the national anthem is playing. If the league decides to continue to put him, great. If this goes on all season, I won’t be on the court. It seems to me that many are ready to follow my example. But I can only speak for myself, Greiner quoted the American Conservative magazine as saying.

Now Brittney can protest, by the way, not only as a well-known athlete, but also as a media person, about the release of which all the country’s largest TV channels have been talking about for several months. So her opinion for ordinary citizens should become even more significant. She will start protesting against the flag, the anthem or the Great Seal of the United States – and what should the politicians who fought for her liberation do?

Another problem might arise if Greiner thinks that fame is good, but money is also good. According to Fortune magazine, in the United States her salary for the season was 221.5 thousand dollars, and in Russia, as the athlete herself already reported, it was about the amount with six zeros. And how will the American citizens who demanded the release of Brittney feel if she suddenly, as if nothing had happened, returns to the UMMC? Although even if she goes for a large salary to conditional China, which is still more likely to return to Russia, moral discomfort among Americans who sincerely worried about the athlete may well arise.