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Brittney Griner pleaded with President Joe Biden in a July 4 message to not overlook her plight, because the WNBA star fears she’ll stay imprisoned in Russia over drug prices and by no means see house.
Representatives of Griner reached out on to Biden on Monday with a handwritten notice from the Phoenix Mercury heart. An excerpt of the notice offered to Newsweek by Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent, reveals the direct attraction Griner made to Biden days after she went on trial for allegedly carrying hashish oil in a Moscow airport on February 17.
Her high-profile arrest and detention come as U.S. officers have raised alarms that Moscow is utilizing detained Individuals as bargaining chips amid worsening diplomatic relations over Russia’s battle in Ukraine.
“As I sit right here in a Russian jail, alone with my ideas and with out the safety of my spouse, household, pals, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I am terrified I is likely to be right here eternally,” Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, wrote in her letter to the president.
Griner famous her father is a Vietnam Struggle veteran and the way her household makes use of the Fourth of July vacation to honor “the service of these males who fought for our freedom.”
“It hurts serious about how I normally have fun this present day as a result of freedom means one thing fully completely different to me this yr,” stated Griner.
She wrote that she voted for Biden for the primary time and nonetheless had religion in him.
“I understand you’re coping with a lot, however please do not forget about me and the opposite detainees. Please do all you possibly can to convey us house.”
Griner, 31, has performed for the Russian basketball group UMMC Ekaterinburg for a number of years. She was detained earlier this yr on prices she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage.
The WNBA has known as for Griner’s launch and the WNBA star’s supporters have used the #FreeBrittneyGriner hashtag to convey consideration to her case. A Change.org petition searching for her return to the U.S. has practically met its aim of 300,000 signatures as of Monday.
Throughout a press briefing final week, Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated the White Home’s view that Griner is being wrongfully detained and needs to be launched by Russian authorities.
“The USA authorities is actively engaged in making an attempt to resolve this case and get Brittney house,” stated Sullivan.
Sullivan stated he and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, and that her detention had the “fullest consideration of the president and each senior member of his nationwide safety and diplomatic group.”
The U.S. authorities is treating Griner’s detention as a hostage state of affairs and the Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs has grow to be concerned along with her case. Russian officers, nonetheless, have maintained that Griner is a lawbreaker.
Colas advised Newsweek in an e mail that “Cherelle Griner and the Griner Household aren’t out there for additional remark at the moment.”
Newsweek has reached out to the White Home for remark.
Replace 7/4/22, 8:14 PM ET: The story has been up to date with extra info.
Replace 7/4/22, 9:30 PM ET: The story has been up to date with remark from Lindsay Kagawa Colas.
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