The U.S. has decided that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being wrongfully detained by Russia, the State Division mentioned in a press release Tuesday.
The U.S. authorities mentioned it could "proceed to undertake efforts to offer acceptable help to Ms. Griner," who was arrested in mid-February at a Russian airport, the place officers claimed that Griner's baggage held vape cartridges with oil derived from hashish, a cost which can lead to as much as 10 years in jail in Russia. On March 18, a Russian court docket prolonged her detention to Could 19.
She is being held in a pre-trial detention middle close to Moscow, the place she is going to keep till her subsequent court docket look.
Underneath a 2020 legislation, the dedication by the U.S. that a person is being wrongfully detained triggers extra focused efforts to free the prisoner, because the case is transferred from the State Division to the particular envoy of hostage affairs. In a press release Tuesday, the State Division confirmed this may happen: "With this dedication, the Workplace of the Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs will lead the interagency group for securing Brittney Griner's launch."
On Tuesday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert introduced that Griner's initials and her quantity, 42, will probably be seen on the sidelines of all 12 of the WNBA basketball courts.
"As we start the 2022 season, we're conserving Brittney on the forefront of what we do by way of the sport of basketball and locally," Engelbert mentioned in a press release.
In late March, U.S. embassy officers have been capable of see Griner on the detention facility the place she's being held, and so they reported her to be in "good situation."
Kristin Brown and Sara Cook dinner contributed to this report.