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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
World

Russia frees US basketball star Brittney Griner in prisoner swap

Brittney Griner Cherelle Griner Paul Whelan Joe Biden Viktor Bout Basketball Prison Anthony Blinken United States
Brittney Griner on the plane out of Russia [Russian Federal Security Service via AP Photo]

Basketball star Brittney Griner has been freed from a Russian prison and is on her way home to the United States after a prisoner swap with convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year jail term in the US.

News of the release spurred messages of relief from US officials, supporters and Griner’s loved ones who had been campaigning for her return for months.

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