Officials at the US Embassy in Moscow visited jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday (local time), more than a week after a Russian court rejected the appeal of her nine-year sentence for drug possession.
The US diplomats “saw firsthand her grit and resilience despite her existing circumstances,” State Department spokesman Ned Price wrote in a tweet.
Price stated that the Biden administration is still pushing for Griner’s and Paul Whelan’s prompt release. Whelan was jailed in Russia for 16 years in 2020 on espionage-related allegations that he and his family claim are false.
Griner “is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and the government is working “to resolve the current unacceptable and unlawful detentions” of both Griner and Whelan.
Griner was found guilty in August after Russian authorities claimed to have discovered marijuana oil-filled vape cartridges in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. In February, just days before Russia moved soldiers into Ukraine, there were rising tensions between Moscow and Washington. During the WNBA offseason at the time, Griner was coming back to play for a Russian team.
She stated she packed the canisters accidently while rushing to reach her flight and had no malicious intent when she admitted carrying them in her luggage during her trial. Her attorneys have criticised the penalty as being disproportionate.
The United States regards Griner and Whelan as wrongful detainees and has been trying for months to negotiate with Russia for their release.
In an effort to secure their release, the US made a “substantial proposal” to Russia, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and President Joe Biden assured Griner and Whelan’s family that his administration was committed to bringing them home during a meeting at the White House in September.
According to those acquainted with the proposal, the US offered Griner and Whelan’s release in exchange for the release of Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer.
Since then, there have been no overt indications that the negotiations have advanced.
According to Jean-Pierre, who is accompanying the president to New Mexico, “the US administration has continued to follow up on that offer and provide different potential routes forward” despite the Russians’ lack of good faith engagement.
US representatives pay WNBA star Brittney Griner a visit in a Russian prison.
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