Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout?
Characteristic
Share of respondents
Strongly approve
16%
Somewhat approve
22%
Somewhat disapprove
17%
Strongly disapprove
29%
Not sure
16%
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A poll conducted in December 2022 found that 16 percent of Americans strongly approve of the prisoner swap involving WNBA player Brittney Griner in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner’s arrest
Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia in February 2022 on smuggling charges after she was found to be carrying vape cartridges containing less than a gram of hash oil. Although Griner obtained the oil through a legal prescription in the U.S., medicinal cannabis is illegal in Russia. At a trial in July 2022, Griner pleaded guilty, but stipulated that she had no intent to break the law. She was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined one million rubles.
December 2022 release
Despite concerns from some U.S. officials that Griner may be used as a pawn by Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in response to western sanctions, her release was secured 10 months after her arrest. On December 8, 2022, she was released by Russia in a prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout who had been in the U.S. serving his 10th year of a 25-year prison sentence.
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YouGov. (December 14, 2022). Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout? [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 26, 2026, from /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/
YouGov. "Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout?." Chart. December 14, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 26, 2026. /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/
YouGov. (2022). Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout?. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 26, 2026. /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/
YouGov. "Do You Approve or Disapprove of The Prisoner Swap in Which Russia Released American Basketball Player Brittney Griner in Exchange for The U.S. Releasing Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout?." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 14 Dec 2022, /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/
YouGov, Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout? ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/ (last visited July 26, 2026)
Do you approve or disapprove of the prisoner swap in which Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout? [Graph], YouGov, December 14, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1356203/approval-brittney-griner-prisoner-swap-us/
