WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison

Source: npr.org

President Biden says WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison.

Standing along side Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, at the White House, Biden said it was a day that “we worked toward for a long time. “

“She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable conditions,” Biden said from the Roosevelt Room.

Biden spoke with Griner from the Oval Office just before making the announcement. He said she was in good spirits, but was experiencing “trauma” and would need time to heal.

“Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along,” Biden said.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday in a press release that Griner was swapped at the Abu Dhabi airport for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

“As a result of intense efforts, we managed to agree with the American side on organization of an exchange of Bout for Griner,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland.” Readmore