The United States is mobilizing to bring Britney Greiner home

The US administration has described the WNBA star, who is being held in Russia on suspicion of drug smuggling, as "illegally detained", and an expert on international hostage negotiations will lead the talks for her return.

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sport

03/05/2022

Tuesday, 03 May 2022, 20:30

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Ticked: Today's Summary Clip, 3.5 (Sports 1)

The US government is mobilizing for Britney Greiner's return home: Early on Tuesday morning, it was reported on ESPN that the WNBA star, who was arrested last February at a Moscow airport on suspicion of drug possession, was now defined as "illegally detained" by the Russian government. Which marks a significant change in the nature of Americans' efforts to return the basketball player to the United States.

More on Walla!

WNBA star Britney Greiner has been arrested in Russia for drug possession

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Changing the official definition means that the US government will not wait for Greiner's legal process to advance in the Russian legal system, but will strive to open negotiations for its return.

In addition, it means that the WNBA players and members of the US Congress have received the blessing of Greiner's family to raise awareness of her case in whatever way they choose.

"Britney has been under arrest for 75 days, and we expect the White House to do whatever it takes to bring her home," Greiner's agent Lindsay Collas told ESPN.

The increase in efforts to return the basketball player will not amount to changing her definition as a prisoner in the eyes of the State Department, as an acquaintance of the 31-year-old actress confirmed that former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson who also worked for years as an international hostage negotiator Taking on the Greiner case - something that experts believe is a clear sign that the United States' approach to the case has become much more serious.

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The United States is mobilizing for repatriation.

Britney Greiner (Photo: GettyImages, Christian Petersen)

So far, it should be noted, Greiner's staff has listened to the US State Department's advice to keep a low profile so as not to make it a higher value asset for Vladimir Putin and his government.

Optimism in the team increased last week, with the release of former Marine Trevor Reid, who has been held in Russia since 2019. Reid was returned in exchange for a Russian citizen convicted of drug smuggling into the United States, which signaled that despite the Russian military's invasion of Ukraine. .

In addition, it is important to emphasize that Greiner's new definition does not mean that she is being held hostage or illegally detained.

It was also reported that as part of raising awareness of the affair, the WNBA decided that a sticker with the initials of the player's name, next to the number 42 she wears on the back of the tank top, would appear on the parquet in each of the league's 12 halls.

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