Relief for Brittney Griner.

Detained for several months in Russia for "drug trafficking", the American basketball player was released Thursday, December 8 as part of a prisoner exchange, according to information confirmed by Washington.

According to Moscow, US authorities have agreed to hand over Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to them.

Supporters of the 32-year-old basketball player denounced a political affair, accusing the Russian authorities of holding her hostage in the context of tensions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine.

Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner.



She is safe.


She is on a plane.


She is on her way home.

pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT

— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022

Nicknamed the "Merchant of Death", Viktor Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.

His journey was one of the inspirations for the film Lord of War in which Nicolas Cage plays a cynical arms dealer.

With AFP

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