The US decided WNBA star Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia.
NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The US has decided that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being wrongfully detained in Russia, the State Division mentioned Tuesday.
The change in designation signifies that the US will ramp up efforts to safe Griner’s launch.
“The US authorities will proceed to undertake efforts to offer acceptable assist to Ms. Griner,” the State Division mentioned.
The case has been moved to the Workplace of the Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which is tasked with negotiating the discharge of Individuals being held hostage and others categorised as being wrongfully detained in different international locations.
It’s unclear what prompted officers to categorise Griner’s case as a wrongful detainment.
Griner, 31, was arrested at a Moscow airport in mid-February for allegedly having hashish vape cartridges in her baggage. She faces 5 to 10 years in Russian jail if convicted on drug smuggling prices.
She received the WNBA championship in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury. She has performed for a Russian crew within the offseason for the previous a number of years.
“Brittney has been detained for 75 days and our expectation is that the White Home do no matter is important to deliver her residence,” Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, mentioned Tuesday.
Nneka Ogwumike, the president of the WNBA gamers’ union, mentioned in a separate assertion that it was “time for her to return residence.”
“Having discovered that the US authorities has now decided that BG is being wrongfully detained we're hopeful that their efforts shall be important, swift and profitable,” Ogwumike mentioned.
Griner was decided to be in “good situation” when the State Division negotiated entry to her in March.
Russia participated final week within the prisoner swap of one other US citizen, former US Marine Trevor Reed.
With Put up wires
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