Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, pens a letter to United States President Joe Biden not to "forget" her as she remained in a Russian prison.
The athlete made the appeal to Biden through the letter that was passed to the White House through representatives. She said that she feared she might never return home and requested help from the Democratic leader for herself and other American detainees in Russia.
Brittney Griner's Letter
Lindsay Kagawa Colas, the WNBA superstar's agent, said that the letter was delivered on Monday and most of its contents to Biden remain private. However, Griner's representatives shared a few lines from the hand-written note.
One part read, "As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever."
The basketball athlete added that on July 4, her family honors the service of those who fought for freedom, including her father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. She said it hurt to think about how she usually celebrated that day because freedom means something completely different to her this year, as per Politico.
Griner, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is in the middle of a trial in Russia that began last week after authorities arrested her on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. Statistically, fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in American courts, acquittals can be overturned.
In a statement, the White House National Security Council (NSC) confirmed that the White House had received Griner's letter to Biden. On Monday, NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said that they believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining the WNBA star.
According to CNN, Watson added that Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released. She added that the American government continues to work aggressively by using every available means to bring Griner and other detainees home.
Russian Imprisonment
Watson added that the president's team was in regular contact with Griner's family, adding that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke several times with the WNBA star's wife in recent weeks.
Last week, Griner's wife, Cherelle, said that she wants American officials to do whatever they need to do to bring the basketball superstar home. In the only interview that she gave on the eve of her wife's trial in Russia, Cherelle sat in the Phoenix Mercury locker room and called for more action regarding the situation.
Griner appeared in court on Friday for the start of her trial in Khimki, a Moscow suburb, where the prosecution alleged that she had full knowledge that cannabis oil was illegal in Russia before she entered the country to play for a Russian team during the WNBA's off-season, the New York Post reported.
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