VIDEO: Biden Announces Brittney Griner’s Release From Russian Prison

VIDEO: Biden Announces Brittney Griner’s Release From Russian Prison

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that WNBA player Brittney Griner has been released from Russian prison. 

She had been sentenced to nine years in prison after Russian authorities said they found a vape cartridge with hashish oil in her luggage. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

In exchange for Griner, the U.S. has freed convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to multiple media reports.

“I spoke with Brittney Griner — she’s safe, she’s on a plane and on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances,” said Biden. “Brittney will soon be back in the arms of loved ones and she should have been there all along.”

“The big picture,” reported Axios. “Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in late July that the U.S. had made a "substantial proposal" to the Kremlin to secure the release of Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan. Blinken said both had been "wrongfully detained."

“Reports suggested that the Biden administration would be willing to exchange convicted Russian arms trafficker Bout — currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. — for Griner and Whelan's freedom,” Axios continued.  “The deal announced Thursday does not include an exchange for Whelan, who has been held in Russia since 2018.