The White House confirmed Thursday the release from prison of U.S. professional basketball player Brittney Griner, imprisoned in Russia on drug trafficking charges, as part of a prisoner exchange, CBS News reports.
The player was sentenced to nine years in prison after Russian authorities found cannabis oil during a February search at a Moscow airport.
The CBS report and a subsequent CNN addendum suggest that Griner has been released in exchange for Viktor Bout, convicted in the United States for arms trafficking, but this aspect could not be officially verified pending an imminent appearance of U.S. President Joe Biden.
The basketball player is already «in the custody of U.S. officials,» Biden Administration sources told CNN.
