THE wife of American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner is pleading for her safe release following her arrest in Russia, describing the situation as ‘weakest moment of my life’.
Griner was detained in a Moscow airport after the Russian Federal Customs Service allegedly found vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her luggage.
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Cannabis is illegal in Russia.
Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner, has taken to social media to thank the people for their support.
“I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely.”
Brittney faces up to 10 years in prison if she’s found guilty of the drug smuggling charges.
The State Department told The US Sun it was aware of the reports of a US person being arrested in Moscow.
There are concerns that Russia will use Brittney as a high-profile hostage with US-Russian relations deteriorating rapidly due to the Ukraine invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops.
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“If we want her out of jail, Russia is going to have some terms,” said former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia and Ukraine Evelyn Farkas.
“It could be a prisoner swap. They also could use it as an implicit threat or blackmail to get us to do something or not do something. Either way, they find it useful.”
A video was released by the Russian Customs Service which showed a traveler at the airport that appeared to look like Brittney who was wearing a mask and black sweatshirt going through security.
The footage was later shared on Telegram with the person putting her belongings through a scanner, with officials putting items in a plastic evidence envelope and sealing it shut as she looked on.
“Brittney Griner has the WNBA’s full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States,” a WNBA spokesperson said in a statement.
USA Basketball said in a statement on Twitter: “USA Basketball is aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns.”
Brittney has played for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg for several years earning more than $1 million, according to the Daily Mail.
Many WNBA players compete in Russia — where they can earn lucrative salaries — during the league’s off-season in the U.S.
Some American players began making plans to leave Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Saturday, the State Department announced a Russian travel advisory warning people not to travel to the country due to “unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.
The department urged U.S. citizens to depart Russia immediately.
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