Speaking from the White House on Thursday morning, President Biden confirmed that WNBA star Brittney Griner was on her way back to the United States after being detained in Russia since February.
WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention and is on her way back to the United States, President Biden announced Thursday.
Moscow released the athlete in a swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to two senior administration officials and a separate statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Biden approved the release of Bout, commuting his 25-year prison sentence, one of the U.S. officials said. Griner had been in Russian custody since her arrest at an airport near Moscow in February, when she was accused of entering the country with illegal vape cartridges containing less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Her lawyers said it was prescribed as part of treatment for chronic pain and other conditions.Biden said Griner will be on U.S. soil “within 24 hours” and thanked administration officials and the United Arab Emirates for helping to facilitate Griner’s return.
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