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U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in prisoner swap

Brittney Griner of the United States congratulates a team mate during their Women's Basketball Gold Medal game against Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, Aug. 8, 2021.
Brittney Griner of the United States congratulates a team mate during their Women's Basketball Gold Medal game against Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, Aug. 8, 2021. Photo by BRIAN SNYDER / FILES /REUTERS

WASHINGTON — 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.

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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.

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