Russian state media blurred some officials’ faces during Brittney Griner’s prisoner exchange at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.

RELATED: Brittney Griner released from Russian imprisonment after prisoner swap https://bit.ly/3uxDdAq

Phoenix Mercury center and WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian penal colony and is in United States custody after a prisoner exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, President Joe Biden confirmed Thursday morning.

Senior administration officials said Griner had been released from the penal colony within the last 48 hours and taken to Moscow before flying to the United Arab Emirates and is currently on her way back to the United States. CBS News was first to report the exchange.

In a speech at the White House, Biden said the exchange had been in the works for the past two weeks, and that he had given the final go-ahead. He added that he had spoken with Griner on the phone. Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, was at the White House on Thursday.

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