Would you release the “Merchant of Death” for a WNBA player? Brittney Griner made headlines after being arrested 10 months ago on drug charges. Now, she makes headlines once again for her release from a Russian prison. In exchange for Griner’s freedom, the US Department of State released Viktor Bout, an illegal Russian arms dealer who had been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. Bout has been selling weapons to destabilized countries since the ‘90s. He supplied both sides of civil wars in Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and even Afghanistan, fueling some of the worst modern military conflicts. He also attempted to sell tens of millions of dollars in weaponry against Americans and is guilty of aiding terrorist organizations. Now, we are freeing him, to bring home a WNBA player..

On February 17, Brittney was arrested by Russian authorities for supposedly smuggling less than 1 gram of cannabis oil into the Moscow airport. The WNBA player pleaded guilty to escape a harsh prison sentence, but it is not clear whether Brittney truly possessed any drugs. Unfortunately, even after compromising for a shorter sentence, Griner was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony! A week later, Russia invaded Ukraine. Suddenly, Griner was not just a prisoner; she was a pawn.

After the United States was able to free Trevor Reed, a Marine veteran, from a Russian prison through a prisoner exchange, rumors surfaced that the United States might consider a prisoner exchange for Brittney. Not too long after, the Department of State had made clear its intentions to free Brittney. In the midst of a failing war effort, Russia weaponized Brittney as a hostage. The US began negotiations for a prisoner swap that would free both Brittney and Paul Whelan, a Marine who had been accused of spying and was arrested. Months of negotiations bring us to Thursday, December 8. The State Department was unable to secure the freedom of both Griner

and Whelan. Instead, they settled for Brittney’s return and the Merchant of Death’s release. With this trade, Russia now gains a weapons dealer who supports its war efforts against Ukraine. The State Department claims they are still working on Whelan’s case.

While many sympathize with Brittney and are happy for her release, many others are also quick to point out the infuriatingly unfair trade. Some have dubbed this the worst WNBA trade in history. After all, we just freed a weapons dealer from a 25-year prison sentence in exchange for an athlete who was arrested for drug possession. Additionally, many are complaining about Griner’s swift release after 10 months, comparing it to Whelan’s 4 years in Russia. Some argue that Whelan should have been freed first or that Bout should never have been released. The situation has even sparked political discourse, prompting Trump to reprimand Biden, calling the deal an “unpatriotic embarrassment.” Biden and his supporters were quick to call out the former president, who had ignored Whelean’s pleas during his time in office and released Taliban prisoners. As always, Democrats and Republicans are still bickering over the topic.

At the end of the day, the controversy over whether Brittney should have been exchanged for the so-called “Merchant of Death” falls into a conflict between ethics and practicality. On one hand, releasing Bout could fuel longer wars and lead to the danger of multiple Americans. Bout’s freedom could be the cause of a million deaths. If asked to pick between the life of one American or a million people, many would pick the latter. On the other hand, the United States government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, including Brittney Griner. It is cruel that Brittney, a citizen playing no part in the international affairs between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, must be held for ransom to strengthen Russia’s war efforts. This moral dilemma continues to launch passionate debates, both inside and outside the US.