The exchange took place at Abu Dhabi Airport in the United Arab Emirates, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

I was talking to Brittney Griner a few moments ago. She is safe. She’s on an airplane. She’s on her way to the United Statessaid US President Joe Biden during a brief address at the White House.

The basketball player is expected in the United States in the next 24 hours. she has good morals In spite of the trauma endured, added Joe Biden.

The basketball player’s wife, Cherelle Griner, said to herself overwhelmed by emotions : My family is completeshe added, expressing it gratitude for democratic government.

His team in the United States, Phoenix Mercury, who tweeted the number of days he was imprisoned daily, tweeted to hail his release: no more day [à compter]. She comes back home.

And the WNBA, the American women’s professional basketball league, had its say Help.

Not a day in the last 10 months that we haven’t held Brittney Griner in our hearts and minds and it has now turned into a collective wave of joy and relief.said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who also hinted that the basketball player would end up in Texas.

Canadian basketball player and WNBA games analyst for Radio-Canada Sports, Lizanne Murphy, underscored that Brittney Griner is a star player in her discipline.

Brittney has taken her place in history and her career isn’t over yet, Lizanne Murphy believes. At the University [NDLR, elle a remporté le Championnat NCAA en 2011-2012 avec l’Université Baylor]she is an Olympic champion [ 2016 et 2020] and she is world champion.

However, the arrest and sentencing of the American in Russia could give pause to athletes who have to go into exile to compete in professional championships abroad.

” This could be a world eye-opener: It’s not just a basketball contract. It’s a different context, and there are unintended consequences that may affect them. I know Russia has a championship, some players from outside showed up. But I can imagine that there are some who think about it before they sign a contract there or go to another country. »

Positive comments from Obama

Many Americans expressed similar sentiments Thursday, including Benjamin Farrow, a graphic designer interviewed by AFP in New York: I’m glad she’s free, looks like we’ll have to sell her to an arms dealer, which isn’t ideal.

Kudos to the Joe Biden administration for the difficult diplomatic work it took to get them there [à cette libération]hailed former Democratic President Barack Obama, a well-known basketball fan, on Twitter.

According to a joint statement with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia also took part in the exchange process and made that clear mediation was carried out by the latter country’s President, Mohammed bin Zayed, and by the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman.

Joe Biden thanked Abu Dhabi, but the White House put his role into perspective, as did Saudi Arabia’s.

The only countries that took part in the negotiations are the United States and Russiasaid U.S. Executive spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

A senior US official said talks with Moscow remained focused on Brittney Griner’s release and the US had communicated this to both Ukraine and other allies.

Paul Whelan still in prison

Another American arrested in Russia Ex-Military Paul Whelanwas not included in the exchange. Even if we didn’t manage to release Paul, we will never give upassured Joe Biden.

A senior US official stated that a US official had done so detailed traded Thursday with Paul Whelan.

Calling CNN from his penal colony in Russia, Paul Whelan said to himself greatly disappointed. I don’t understand why I’m still herehe explained.

This was announced by his family in a message happy for Ms. Griner, however still devastated Meet Paul Whelan in a Russian prison.

Arrested in Russia in December 2018, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 espionagea condemnation he denounced as fabricated.

In prison for cannabis

Brittney Griner, a 32-year-old African American athlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February with a vape and liquid containing cannabis, a product banned in Russia.

She was sentenced to nine years in prison in August and transferred to a penal colony in central Russia after her appeal was rejected in November.

His supporters have consistently denounced a hostage-taking to bargain with Washington in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine.

The name of Viktor Bout had been mentioned in the summer. Notorious Russian arms dealer arrested in Thailand in 2008 he had been sentenced to 25 years in prison in the United States.

He earned the nickname Merchant of Deathand his extraordinary journey served as inspiration for the film Lord of Warin which Nicolas Cage plays a highly cynical arms dealer.

Americans and Russians accuse each other of having imprisoned their respective nationals for political purposes. Several prisoner exchanges have taken place in the past.