The U.S. Department of State has decided that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being “wrongfully detained by the Russian government,” a division official confirmed Tuesday to NBC News.
The change in official classification means Griner’s case will probably be dealt with by Roger Carstens, the particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs, in coordination with the State Department’s Office of Consular Affairs, the official mentioned. With the brand new classification, the U.S. will probably be extra aggressive in its efforts to safe her launch. The news was first reported by ESPN.
The Phoenix Mercury star was arrested in February on drug fees after a search of her baggage on the Sheremetyevo airport close to Moscow discovered vape cartridges containing oil derived from hashish. In March, Russian officials mentioned Griner’s detention was prolonged till May 19.
The offense may carry a most sentence of 10 years in jail.
The State Department mentioned it would proceed to “undertake efforts to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner.”
“The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is among the highest priorities of the U.S. Government,” a division spokesperson mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.
Under the 2020 Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, the State Department is required to categorise whether or not U.S. detainees are being held unlawfully or wrongfully abroad. Carstens’ workplace is chargeable for dealing with such instances.
An individual near the state of affairs beforehand informed NBC News that Griner is doing OK and has met along with her Russian authorized workforce a number of instances every week since she was detained.
Ekaterina Kalugina, a member of Public Monitoring Commission, informed the Russian state news company TASS that Griner is being held with two inmates who “had no previous convictions and are charged with drug-related articles.”
Griner, 31, is a middle for Phoenix Mercury and has gained a WNBA championship with the workforce in addition to two Olympic gold medals. She is a seven-time All Star. During the winter, Griner has performed in Russia for the final seven years. She final performed for her Russian workforce UMMC Ekaterinburg on Jan. 29 earlier than the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.
Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, commented on Brittney’s detainment in an Instagram put up final week following news that Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine, was launched in a prisoner trade after practically three years in a Russian jail.
“As I do everything in my power to get BG home, my heart is overflowing with joy for The Reed Family. I do not personally know them, but I do know the pain of having your loved one detained in a foreign country. That level of pain is constant and can only be remedied by a safe return home,” she wrote. “For the Reed family, that day is today. Welcome Home Trevor, sending love to you and your family on this special day.”
Cherelle Griner has not weighed in on the newest growth in her spouse’s case.
