US Embassy officers visit Brittney Griner in Russia prison

WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow visited jailed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday, just months just after a Russian court turned down her enchantment of her nine-calendar year sentence for drug possession.

Point out Division spokesman Ned Cost stated in a tweet that the American reps “saw firsthand her tenacity and perseverance irrespective of her current situation.”

Cost explained the Biden administration is continuing to press for the rapid release of Griner and Paul Whelan, who was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison in Russia on espionage-related fees that he and his relatives say are bogus, and “fair remedy for every detained American.”

White Dwelling press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained Griner “is executing as perfectly as can be anticipated below the circumstances” and that the administration was working “to solve the recent unacceptable and wrongful detentions” of Griner and Whelan.”

Griner was was convicted in August soon after police mentioned they uncovered vape canisters made up of cannabis oil in her baggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Her arrest in February came at a time of heightened tensions involving Moscow and Washington, just times just before Russia despatched troops into Ukraine. At that time, Griner was returning to play for a Russian workforce throughout the WNBA’s offseason.

She admitted at her trial to obtaining the canisters in her luggage but testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and experienced no felony intent. Her lawyers have known as the punishment excessive.

The United States regards Griner and Whelan as wrongful detainees and has been seeking to negotiate with Russia for their release. Secretary of Condition Antony Blinken explained over the summer season that the U.S. experienced created a “substantial proposal” to Russia to consider to get both of those household.

People familiar with the provide have mentioned the U.S. required to swap Whelan and Griner for convicted Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.

There have been no outward indicators of progress considering that then in the negotiations.

Tale carries on

Jean-Pierre told reporters touring with the president to New Mexico that “even with a lack of good religion negotiation by the Russians, the U.S. govt has ongoing to comply with up on that supply and propose choice possible methods forward with Russia by way of all accessible channels. This continues to be a best precedence.”

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Adhere to Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

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Comply with AP’s protection of Brittney Griner at: https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner