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American basketball player Brittney Griner was freed from a Russian prison in a prisoner swap, with the U.S. releasing international arms dealer Viktor Bout. TURAN's Washington correspondent reports from the White House.
“Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner,” President Biden said addressing the media.
“This is a day we worked for a long time,” Biden said, adding that Griner is safe. "She is on a plane. She is on her way home.” Biden said Griner will be back home within the next 24 hours.
Biden thanked the UAE. “This has been hell” for Griner and her family, he added.
Cherelle Griner, Brittney's wife, expressed gratitude to the president, VP, Secretary Blinken, Jake Sullivan and others.
Biden also assured that Paul Whelan is still a priority.
Griner was first detained in February just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, and the Biden administration for months has sought her release, considering her wrongfully imprisoned. The two-time Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty in August after being charged with possession of cannabis oil while insisting she did not intend to break the law.
She appealed her nine-year sentence, but a Russian court rejected the appeal and sent Griner to a penal colony.
The potential prisoner swap with Bout had been reported for months as the Biden administration sought to secure Griner’s release, although officials had not confirmed the plans.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
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On the 35th birthday of Igbal Abilov, a researcher imprisoned in Azerbaijan, his colleagues and supporters organized celebratory actions in various European cities, including Vilnius, Belgrade, Warsaw, and Porto, to raise awareness about his case. The participants of these actions called for the release of Abilov, who has been recognized by human rights defenders as a political prisoner.
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As a result of the preliminary investigation, the charge against Aziz Orujov, director of the internet TV channel Kanal 13, under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of individuals in conspiracy) has been dropped. The case has been sent to court only under Article 188.2 of the Criminal Code (unauthorized construction on land without ownership rights). This was reported to Turan by Orujov's wife, journalist Lamia Orujeva.
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Today, the Baku Serious Crimes Court delivered a verdict in the case of public activist Ilhamiz Guliyev. The court reclassified the charges from Article 234.4.3 (illegal drug trafficking with intent to sell in large quantities) to a lighter charge under Article 234.1-1 (illegal acquisition, possession, manufacturing, processing, or transportation of narcotic substances or psychotropic substances in large quantities without the intent to distribute) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code and sentenced the activist to three years in prison.
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On December 12, the Union for "Freedom for Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan" published an updated list of political prisoners, which now includes the names of 331 individuals.
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