Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian prison and is returning to the United States following a prisoner exchange with convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.

The release of Griner prompted messages of relief from US officials, supporters, and Griner's family members, who had campaigned for her return for months.

According to Russian news agencies, the exchange took place at the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was "on her way home," according to US President Joe Biden.

She is secure. She is in flight. She is on her way home," Biden tweeted alongside a photo of him and Cherelle Griner, Griner's wife.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming the exchange, stating that Bout had been flown home. Russian media showed Griner alighting from a Russian aircraft in Abu Dhabi, where she was greeted by a United States official. Two Russians embraced Bout, formerly known as the "Death Merchant."

Later, Russian television showed Bout stepping off a snow-covered tarmac in Moscow as his mother and wife presented him with flowers.

"Incomprable athlete"

Griner, 32, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) star for the Phoenix Mercury, was arrested on February 17 at a Moscow airport after cannabis oil cartridges, which are illegal in Russia, were discovered in her luggage.

Her arrest occurred days before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 as tensions between Washington and Moscow increased. Early on, the Biden administration stated that she had been "wrongfully detained."

Throughout Griner's detention in Russian custody, her family, teammates, and supporters urged the US government to exert its full influence to secure her release.

On August 4, she was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling. She pleaded guilty but claimed she had not intended to break the law and had made an "honest mistake."

Her attorneys deemed the sentence excessive, emphasizing that it "does not reflect the gravity of the crime."

Griner was transferred to a prison colony in the Russian region of Mordovia to serve her sentence last month.

Biden stated in a brief address at the White House on Thursday that the last few months have been "hell" for Brittney, but that she is in good spirits. He described the basketball superstar as a "unrivaled athlete."

"This is a day we've waited a long time for. We never ceased our efforts to secure her release. It required arduous and intense negotiations," said the US president.

On Thursday, dozens of US politicians, athletes, and commentators expressed gratitude and joy for Griner's release.

"BG is Costless!! 294 days until she returns!!! " Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm wrote on Twitter.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised Griner's "extraordinary courage and dignity in the face of tremendous adversity," as she described it.

"We have all had Brittney Griner on our minds and in our hearts every day for the past ten months, and that has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief knowing that she will soon be reunited with her family, the WNBA player community, and her friends," said Engelbert in a statement.

Paul Whelan case

Paul Whelan, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 on false espionage charges, was not included in the prisoner swap.

Biden pledged to continue to advocate for Whelan's release on Thursday. "Although we have not yet been able to secure Paul's release, we will not give up. We will never give up," Biden said. "We remain in close contact with Paul's family, the Whelans, and my prayers are with them today."

As he welcomed Griner's release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also referenced Whelan.

Blinken said in a statement, "While we celebrate Brittney's release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly." "Despite our ceaseless efforts, the Russian government is not yet willing to end his unjust detention, which is long overdue."

A US official stated that Griner's release from Russian custody occurred within the last 48 hours and that the Biden administration presented Russia with multiple options to secure Whelan's freedom.

"It was either bring Brittney Griner home immediately or bring no American home immediately," the official said in a telephone briefing on condition of anonymity.

The official stated that the discussions to secure Griner's release did not involve broader issues with Russia.

Several media outlets in the United States reported that Griner will be flown to San Antonio, Texas, where she will undergo a routine medical evaluation upon arrival.

"Merchant of death"

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia announced in a joint statement on Thursday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed led negotiations to secure the prisoner swap agreement.

Later on Thursday, however, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that the prisoner swap agreement was reached through exclusive negotiations between Washington and Moscow.

"Only the United States and Russia negotiated this agreement, and there was no mediator involved," she stated.

"We are grateful to the UAE... for allowing the exchange to take place on their territory. We are also grateful to other nations, including Saudi Arabia, for bringing the issue of our wrongfully detained citizens to the attention of the Russian government.

A 55-year-old former lieutenant colonel in the Soviet army was accused of arming rebel groups in some of the world's most violent conflicts.

Moscow stated that it had been negotiating with Washington for "a long time" to secure Bout's release and that the United States had initially "refused dialogue" on including him in any swap.

"However, the Russian Federation continued to work actively to save our companion. The Russian national has been returned to his native country, according to the defense ministry.

US Justice Department once described Bout as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. In 2008, he was arrested in Thailand and extradited to the United States.

The Nicolas Cage-starring 2005 film Lord of War was inspired by Bout's life.

Thursday, some Republicans in the United States criticized the swap deal, citing Bout's notoriety and the fact that Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia.