Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow
WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow
Alex.Haynes
WASHINGTON — WNBA star Brittney Griner is free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer, according to a senior administration official.
President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive who remains jailed in Russia.
Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, was in the Oval Office with Biden and the two were able to speak with her by phone, according to a senior White House official.
Biden is expected to give remarks at 8:45 a.m. ET.
The move marks one of the most high-profile prisoner swaps between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, with the Kremlin seeing the return of Viktor Bout, who Russian President Vladimir Putin has been wanting to get back — and who had served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the United States.
This story is developing and will be updated.
