U.S. Basketball Star Griner Released from Russian Custody in Prisoner Swap -U.S. Official

(Reuters) – U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia and is now in U.S. custody, President Joe Biden said on Thursday.

“She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home,” Biden said in a tweet.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, a U.S. official said, adding that the call included Griner‘s wife, Cherelle.

Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner.

She is safe.
She is on a plane.
She is on her way home. pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT

— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022

Biden is to make remarks at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT), the White House said.

The Russian foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, a former arms dealer.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Chizu Nomiyama)

This story is developing