During the more than four months Britney Greener was suffering in a Russian prison, supporters of basketball stars said the Byden administration was Vladimir Putin. Increased demand to put pressure on. Release her her.
The campaign to win her freedom is intensifying, and the "We are BG"websitehas collected over 269,000 signatures on change.org's petition and told President Byden. Take action today. " Whatever it takes to take her home. "
Proponents declared Russia "unfairly detained" by the Byden administration last month, as well as the prison exchange that released the U.S. Marine CorpsTrevoredin April. It states that it can trade with people. Reed had been detained in Russia since 2020, but she was exchanged for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroschenko, who was convicted of drug smuggling.
Last month, Russian media reported that the Putin administration may consider exchanging Grinner for a convicted Russian arms dealerVictor Bout. .. York Federal Court colluded to sell weapons to a Colombian terrorist group.
Former UN Ambassador Bill Richard who helped release Reed According to Son's report, is also working on the Greener case.
"Britney Greener is so well known that I'm sure Russians will want something in return,"Richardson said last month. rice field. "She has a lot of attention. She is a figure in the world, and Russians will want something in return."
Grinner's wife, Sherel Greener blew up the Byden administration last week after an employee of the US Embassy in Moscow was unable to answer a call from Britney Greener on the couple's fourth anniversary of marriage. The phone was reportedly patched through the embassy, and Greener tried to call his wife 11 times.
"I was upset. I was hurt. Sherel Greener told the Associated Pressabout how she felt on the anniversary: "I'm sure I sent the text to the BG agent. , "I don't want to talk to anyone. It takes a minute to put together my feelings, and tell everyone that it's not available right now." That's because I knocked me out. I wasn't fine, I'm not fine yet.
The State Department said it regrets the "logistic error."
On Wednesday, the Human Rights Campaign, Women's National Basketball Players Association and NAACP , Sent President Bydenletter, urging him to "return Britney to the United States immediately and safely."
The signer said that Grinner was "deprived of contact with his family and continued to endure inhumane treatment", "essentially a political pawn". I said there is.
Dawn Starry, Olympic Gold Medalist and Basketball Coach at South Carolina University Gamecock, tweeteddaily to 144,900 followers, calling on authorities to "#freebrittneygriner." Staley coached Greener, who helped the US women's basketball team win the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics.
Members of Greener's hometown of Texas, including Democrat Colin Alled, are also campaigning for her release with sports stars. Allred and other lawmakers last month issued a resolution calling for the release of Griner. Last week, members of Phoenix Mercury met with State Department officials.
To release the greener Despite increasing pressure, Sherel Greener said she does not believe the Byden administration has begun negotiations with the Russian government for her return.
"In my understanding, they haven't started negotiations for her release. Therefore, this letter is very powerful because we are at the stage where you should make a deal. There is a great need for support to emphasize the fact that there is, "said Cherel Greener.
"I hope I understand it clearly," she said of White House's strategy. "They talk a lot with me in the code."
