Article author:
Reuters
Washington — US President Joe Biden told Brittney Griner's wife on Wednesday that she is working to secure the release of the WNBA basketball star from Russia as soon as possible and detained her on drug charges. Said "I can't stand it."
Greener, who was playing in a Russian club during the off-season, was arrested at Moscow Airport on February 17 for finding a cannabis oil vapor cartridge in a baggage search.
She was tried last week and her next hearing is scheduled for Thursday. If she is convicted of drugs, she can face up to 10 years in prison. Grinner wrote to Biden this week, saying she "she is afraid she will be here forever." According to the White House, Biden spoke with Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, and read a draft letter to basketball players on Wednesday.
The President called Cherel to secure the release of Britney and the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. citizens who were illegally detained or held hostage in and around Russia. I reassured her that I was there. The White House said in a statement Wednesday.
Biden was called by Vice President Kamala Harris. The White House added that he instructed the team to keep in touch with Grinner's family and other American families detained abroad on a regular basis.
Welan is a former US Marine sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage in June 2020.
The Greener case has received a lot of attention during the Russian war in Ukraine. Western nations have imposed sanctions on Moscow in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia and the United States. Relationships have reached their worst since the Cold War.
At the first hearing on Friday, Greener was allegedly charged with intentionally importing drugs. Russia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Grinner could appeal her judgment or apply for an amnesty after her verdict was given.
"The court must make a verdict first, but no one has stopped Brittney Griner from using her appeal procedure," said Alexei Zaitsev, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry. Said in the briefing.
"Attempts to present the case as if an American woman had been torted were unbearable in criticism," Zaytsev added. (Report by Reuters and Lami Ayub in Washington, edited by Guy Fallconbridge and Leslie Adler)
