WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner is being detained in Russia after Customs Brokers mentioned discovered vape cartridges that contained hash oil in her baggage, against the law that carries a most penalty of 10 years in jail, on the Sheremetyevo airport close to Moscow.
The customs service launched a video of a person who appeared to be the 6-foot-9 Griner going by airport safety, sporting a masks and black sweatshirt, and having a package deal eliminated from her bag.
“We’re conscious of the scenario with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in shut contact along with her, her authorized illustration in Russia, her household, her groups, and the WNBA and NBA,” Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent advised ESPN through assertion Saturday. “As that is an ongoing authorized matter, we aren’t capable of remark additional on the specifics of her case however can affirm that as we work to get her residence, her psychological and bodily well being stay our major concern.”
The screening and video apparently occurred in February, in line with media stories, elevating the chance that Griner has been in custody for at the very least per week and {that a} legal case has been opened into the large-scale transportation of medication.
USA Basketball, which oversees the Olympics groups, and the WNBA gamers’ union additionally launched statements expressing help for Griner.
The arrest of a high-profile American amid escalating battle created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might be seen as Russia’s try to create leverage for a possible prisoner change with the U.S. authorities or a discount in sanctions associated to the invasion, speculated the New York Occasions.
Many WNBA gamers compete in Russia, the place salaries are extra profitable, in the course of the American league’s low season, most just lately in Russia. Griner has performed for the Russian workforce UMMC Ekaterinburg for a number of years.
The State Division issued a “don’t journey” advisory for Russia on Jan. 23 that warned Individuals towards touring to Russia.
One other “don’t journey” advisory was issued Saturday.
Some American gamers started planning to go away Russia following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine, and a WNBA spokeswoman mentioned on Saturday that each one WNBA. gamers apart from Griner had been out of Russia and Ukraine.
Picture by Michael Parulava on Unsplash
