Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle Griner came on CBS Mornings to address the WNBA star's mental health. She claimed that the the Olympic gold medalist was experiencing the lowest point of her life at the time and was worried that the US and the general public would forget about her.
Griner, who also played professionally, was detained in February at a Moscow airport after authorities allegedly discovered less than a gram of hash oil in vape cartridges. Cherelle told the show that she was terrified of being abandoned in Russia or of being completely mistreated to the point of harm.
Brittney Griner Expresses Hopelessness
The basketball player admitted during a phone call with her wife that she felt like "my life just doesn't matter," according to Cherelle Griner, as per VT. Following the discovery of hash oil-containing vape cartridges in her luggage by airport security in February, Brittney Griner was detained by Russian authorities.
She was found guilty in a Russian court on narcotics possession and smuggling charges, and on August 4, 2022 she was given a nine-year prison sentence. Although she testified that she had accidentally packed the canisters in a hurry and that she had no malicious intent, she confirmed in court that she had them in her suitcase.
According to written testimony provided by her defense team, she had received a cannabis prescription to relieve pain. The fear that Cherelle Griner had for her wife's safety while she was in Russian captivity was expressed further by Cherelle Griner.
The potential for her to be moved from Moscow, where she is now being kept, to a work camp raises additional concerns for the WNBA star. The hearing for Brittney Griner's appeal of her sentence is scheduled for tomorrow, Independent reported.
Biden Administration Vows Return of Brittney Griner
US President Joe Biden promised Cherelle and the Griner family that the US government will use all available means to bring Brittney home during their meeting the presdient, Cherelle said. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden held separate conversations with Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan's sister, to reassure the families that the detainees are at front of mind.
In an April prisoner swap, Russia released former US Marine Trevor Reed who had been found guilty of assault in July 2020. The intended penalty for him was nine years. Days before Russia sent soldiers into Ukraine, Griner was arrested, causing tensions between Moscow and Washington to soar. Earlier this week, Putin issued a proclamation to forcibly annex.
However, days later, Russia was had to withdraw its forces from Lyman, a key strategic location that is one of the four districts of Ukraine that Russia annexed. Putin proclaimed the West to be Satanic and promised to use all of the power at the Kremlin to defend Russia's new territory as he signed the decree. Many others took the comment to be a nuclear threat, as per Daily Mail.
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