Griner freed in U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange

Russia has freed WNBA prima Brittney Griner successful a melodramatic high-level captive exchange, with American officials confirming to ESPN's T.J. Quinn that the U.S. is releasing notorious Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

The swap, made astatine a clip of heightened tensions implicit the penetration of Ukraine, achieved a apical extremity for President Joe Biden but carried a dense terms and near down an American jailed for astir 4 years successful Russia.

The deal, the 2nd specified speech successful 8 months with Russia, procured the merchandise of the astir salient American detained abroad. Griner is simply a two-time Olympic golden medalist whose monthslong imprisonment connected cause charges brought unprecedented attraction to the colonisation of wrongful detainees.

Biden's authorization to merchandise a Russian felon erstwhile nicknamed the "Merchant of Death" underscored the escalating unit that his medication faced to get Griner home, peculiarly aft the caller solution of her transgression lawsuit and her consequent transportation to a penal colony.

Biden tweeted astir Griner's merchandise Thursday morning, penning that she is connected her mode backmost to the United States.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.