The Politics of Detention and Exchange: Looking Back at the Brittney Griner Case
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Overview
WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport on February 17, 2022 for possession of vape cartridges with trace amounts of hash oil. The next week, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Griner’s detention and subsequent conviction in Russia immediately took on an added political significance—culminating in Washington and Moscow eventually negotiating her release in exchange for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In this discussion, Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon and William E. Pomeranz explored how the Griner case offers important insights into both U.S.-Russian relations and political and cultural trends within our own country.
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Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more
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