Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian jail in a prisoner swap, after spending nearly 10 months in custody.
The WNBA star, 32, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug smuggling charges, was released in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout on Thursday, CBS News reported, citing a U.S. official.
NBC News reports President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates. Biden, 80, who is expected to give remarks later Thursday morning, also tweeted: “Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home,” alongside photographs of himself, Vice President Kamala Harris and Griner’s wife, Cherelle.
Griner is currently in the custody of American officials, a U.S. official told CNN. Paul Whelan, another American who remains jailed in Russia, was not included in the swap, the outlet said.
