BUT American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained in February at a Russian airport, wrote a handwritten letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to “do everything possible” to ensure his return home.
Griner, a WNBA (Women’s Basketball League in the United States) player for the Phoenix Mercury team, was arrested by Russian authorities on charges of drug trafficking, allegedly for having a vaporizer with cannabis-derived cartridges.
The defense of the athlete (who is playing for the Russian league team on leave from the American League) did not specify what technical substance the athlete was detained with, since one of the possible substances is CBD, a component of cannabis legal in the United States of America and in many countries around the world, but not in Russia.
In a letter to US President Brittney Griner says she is “afraid” of what Russia might do to her case given the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
“Sitting in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey or any awards, I am afraid that I may stay here forever,” she wrote. press secretary and quoted by NBC News.
The White House also commented on Griner’s letter. The connection between the U.S. administration and the athlete’s case has been heavily criticized, especially by the athlete’s wife, Cherell Griner, who accused the State Department of neglecting the fact that it did not get the first call between them in four months – allegedly due to a lack of staff at the embassy.
About her wife, Brittney Griner said she “misses” you. “I miss my family! To my teammates! It kills me that they are suffering so much right now,” he added, before begging Biden for his request. “I am grateful for everything you can do to bring me home,” she said.
In the letter, the Houston-born basketball player also refers to the freedoms guaranteed to Americans on Independence Day (which is celebrated this Monday), therefore urging Biden to “keep in mind” himself and “others.” detainees.”
“Please do your best to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore” . Griner.
The White House’s diplomatic response to the detention of an American citizen is that she is illegally arrested and they guarantee they are working to get her released.
The truth is that the Britney Griner case, along with two other American soldiers detained in Ukraine, has become one of the stages of tension between American and Russian diplomacy, the escalating war in Ukraine and the series of sanctions that brought them.
Read also: Basketball court was held in Russia. “She’s got hope”
Always be the first to know.
6th year in a row Consumers Choice and Five Star Award for Online Press.
Download our free app.
