LThe wife of Brittney Griner, a WNBA star detained in Russia since last February, asked this Wednesday that the president of the United States, Joe Biden, intervene to free the player, because, he said, “he has the power to do it.”
“There is one person who can rescue (Brittney Griner) and that is our president. He has that power and I wonder ‘why aren’t we using it?'” Cherelle Griner, wife of the Phoenix Mercury player, said in an interview. to the chain “Espn”.
“We are waiting for (Biden) to use his power to free him,” he added.
Griner, one of the main stars of the WNBA, has been detained in Russia on charges of drug smuggling since February 17 and his arrest was extended until at least June 18.
“I feel very vulnerable right now. I have to trust people I didn’t even know before last February 17th. I’m trusting his (Gnerer’s) lawyers. How will he be? How will he feel? Will he have the strength? I’m asking these questions to try and understand,” he stated.
“Sometimes they tell me that he is very strong, that he seemed in a good mood. Other times they tell me that he had very little energy,” he continued.
Griner is to remain in pretrial detention until at least June 18, after a Russian court recently extended his detention, which was due to expire on May 19.
Double world and Olympic champion with her country, Griner was arrested in February at Sheremtevo airport in Moscow after customs officials found cannabis oil among her belongings.
The American, who has been a member of the Yekaterinburg UGMK since 2015, could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, since in Russia it is prohibited by law to enter the country with cannabis.
As a form of support for Griner, the WNBA placed stickers with the initials BG and the number 42 on the tracks of its twelve teams, in addition to highlighting its commitment so that the player can overcome “this difficult time” and “go back home.” “.
The US State Department reported on May 4 that it has “determined” that Griner is “unjustly detained” in Russia.