American basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February, has been released in a trade.
President of the United States Joe Biden wrote on his social networks this Thursday (08) that he spoke to the WNBA star and confirmed that Griner is safe and has returned to his country.
“I spoke to Brittney Griner a few minutes ago. She’s safe. She’s on the plane. She’s going home,” Biden wrote in a tweet that featured some photos of him in the Oval Office with his wife, Cherelle Griner. athlete
The US representative did not provide further details on the athlete’s release, but broadcaster CBS reported that Griner was involved in a prisoner swap with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
According to Tass agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the exchange between Griner and Bout took place at Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates.
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of small quantities of cannabis oil, but was transferred to a penal colony in early November.
The 32-year-old basketball player admitted to the charges but said he had no intention of violating Russian law. The American is considered one of the best athletes in the world in sports.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.