WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released by Russia in a 1-for-1 captive swap with “Dealer of Death” arms dealer Viktor Bout

BRITTNEY Griner has been released from prison in Russia.

The WNBA star was released Thursday in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, officials said.

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Griner was held in a Russian prison for months after being convicted of drug-related offenses.

The one-for-one prisoner swap was approved by President Joe Biden within the last week, CBS News reported.

The agreement was reportedly reached last Thursday.

Biden shared news of Giner’s release Thursday, along with a picture with her wife, Charelle, and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I was talking to Brittney Griner earlier. She is safe. She’s on the plane. She’s on her way home,” he tweeted.

The US-US deal leaves American security expert Paul Whelan jailed in Russia in what American officials have described as a fraudulent charge.

Russian courts on August 4 sentenced Griner to nine years in prison for drug smuggling for bringing hash oil into the country.

Griner returned to New York in February 2022 when she was stopped at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after a scan showed she had cartridges of hash oil-containing liquid.

Bout was serving a 25-year sentence in the States after being convicted by a federal court in 2011 of conspiring to murder US citizens and officials.

Speaking to the nation Thursday from the White House along with Harris and Griner’s wife Charelle, Biden said, “This was a day we had worked hard for.”

He thanked the officials who worked “tirelessly” for their release and the United Arab Emirates where the exchange took place.

“Brittney is in a good mood and relieved to finally be going home,” he said.

The President also spoke about Whelan, saying “we haven’t forgotten him” and vowing he will not stop fighting for his release.

“This wasn’t a choice of which American to bring home,” he explained, adding that Russia was treating Whelan’s case “differently.”

Brittney’s wife Charelle also spoke at the White House on Thursday and said she was “overwhelmed with emotion” as she thanked the Biden administration.

“Today, my family is whole, but as you all know, there’s quite a number of families that aren’t,” she said.

“BG and I will remain committed to bringing every American home, including Paul,” she added.

“We understand there are still people out there enduring what I’ve had to endure for the past nine months.”

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