US basketball player, Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia.
According to US officials on Thursday, the WNBA star was freed in exchange for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Brittney had been imprisoned in Russia after being convicted in August and sentenced to nine years in prison.
A White House official said the president spoke to Brittney Griner by phone. The call happened in the Oval Office, where the president was joined by Cherelle Griner, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Per standard procedure for freed U.S. prisoners, Griner was expected to quickly undergo a medical evaluation.
“She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home,” President. Biden said in a tweet, which included a couple photos of himself in the Oval Office with Cherelle Griner
The swap took place in Abu Dhabi airport, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.