Brittney Griner: Russia frees US basketball star in swap with arms dealer Bout

The US and Russia have exchanged jailed US basketball star Brittney Griner for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, held in an American prison for 12 years.

The swap was approved by President Joe Biden in recent days.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possessing cannabis oil and last month sent to a penal colony.

President Biden tweeted that he had spoken to Griner, that she was safe and was on her way home.

The Biden administration proposed a prisoner exchange last July, aware Moscow had long sought Bout’s release.

Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed the swap and Russian media reported that it had taken place in Abu Dhabi.

President Biden signed the order for Bout’s release, commuting his 25-year jail term.

Viktor Bout sold arms to warlords and rogue governments, becoming one of the world’s most wanted men.

Dubbed the “merchant of death” for gun-running in the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian’s exploits inspired the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, which was loosely based on his life.

His secretive career was brought to an end by an elaborate US sting in 2008, when he was arrested at a hotel in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the anger of the Russian government.

He was extradited two years later and has spent the past 12 years languishing in an American jail for conspiring to support terrorists and kill Americans.

When negotiations began to secure Griner’s release during the summer, the US also made clear it wanted ex-marine Paul Whelan to be freed as well. However, there was no mention of Whelan, accused by Russia of spying, as part of the prisoner exchange.

In his tweet, President Biden posted a picture from the Oval Office alongside Griner’s wife Cherelle and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Agencies