The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Jailed basketball player Brittney Griner writes to President Joe Biden

2022-07-05T08:29:55.147Z


"Please don't forget me." Basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been in prison in Russia since February, wrote a letter to US President Biden. Meanwhile, Russian state media are talking about an exchange.


Enlarge image

Brittney Griner (right) at a court hearing in Khimki near Moscow

Photo: EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA / REUTERS

US basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February, wrote to US President Joe Biden for her release.

Various media, including ESPN and CNN, quoted from the 31-year-old's letter.

“I'm afraid I'll have to stay here forever.

Please don't forget me," says the published excerpt.

On Independence Day in the United States, it hurts Griner when she thinks about how "I usually celebrate this day, because freedom means something completely different to me this year." In the letter, Griner emphasized how much she misses her family and showed herself grateful for any support.

A representative for the basketball player said they would not release the entire letter or detail how it got to the White House from Griner's prison cell outside Moscow.

Griner was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17.

She is accused of having vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage.

She faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

Most recently, the detention had already been extended until July 2 (Saturday), now it lasts at least until the end of the process.

According to the US State Department, the basketball star is being held in Russian custody for no reason.

Most recently, the players of the US professional league WNBA had called for Griner's release.

Russian media report talks about an exchange

According to ESPN, her family and supporters have recently tried to increase pressure on the White House and the US State Department.

Russian state media had reported that there were talks of replacing Griner with a Russian named Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence on terrorism financing charges.

Griner became a 2014 champion with Phoenix Mercury and won two Olympic gold medals.

Since 2015 she played in the WNBA break in Russia at UMMC Yekaterinburg.

mfu/sid

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2022-07-05

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.