WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife said in a post on Instagram Thursday that they “are overwhelmed with joy and relief” for the Americans recently released in a prisoner swap with Russia.
“The Biden-Harris [Administration] showed true leadership once again by doing whatever it took to bring Americans home. Every American returned is a win,” reads the post, signed by Griner and her wife, Cherelle.
Griner was detained in Russia for around 10 months and was later freed in December 2022 via a similar prisoner swap.
“Although today is one of celebration, our hearts go out to the many Americans still being held hostage overseas, and their families,” the post from Griner and her wife continues.
Those released in the Thursday prisoner swap with Russia include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara-Murza, five Germans and seven Russians.
“Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families,” President Biden said in a Thursday statement. “We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.”
In an interview on Fox News Thursday, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Biden “was willing to make that tough call in order to get these … all these individuals, not just the Americans, all of them, released.”