After the open letter from US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia, the pressure on US President Joe Biden is increasing.
The fate of US basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February, has long since become a political case. Now he has officially landed with the US President: As the White House confirmed, Joe Biden received a handwritten letter from Griner.
“I’m sitting here in a Russian prison. Alone, without the protection of my wife, my family, my friends or my other earnings“, wrote Griner. “I’m afraid that I might stay here forever.“In an emotional appeal, Griner asked the President directly for support, for himself and for all other Americans being held in Russia:”Please do everything in your power to help us go home.“
Griner’s letter to President Biden on July 4th
The fact that the letter arrived at the White House on July 4th, America’s Independence Day, shouldn’t have been a coincidence: July 4th was always a special day for her family, Griner also wrote to the President. Her father fought in the Vietnam War, and the family always celebrated this holiday in honor of all US soldiers. Independence Day, Vietnam, the Army – more political symbolism is hardly possible in the USA.
White House on Griner Case: “Top Priority”
There was initially no direct response from the White House, but the President read Griner’s letter, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council told the BBC. There is an absolutely clear line of approach on the part of the President to achieve the release of US citizens who are “unjustly imprisoned abroad or taken hostage”, including Griner.
The case of the Olympic basketball champion, who is accused of illegal drug possession in Russia, has for the President “highest priority“It was also said at the press briefing on Tuesday in the White House. The State Department and Biden’s office are also in regular contact with Griner’s family.
The latter was probably also an answer to the recent criticism from Cherelle Griner, the wife of the US basketball player. Cherelle Griner accused the US government of not doing enough to get her wife released on CBS breakfast television. It is also “discouraging“She was quoted as saying in the New York Times that she has not yet received a direct response from the White House.”I won’t hold still any longer. My wife is fighting a difficult battle, we must help her.”
Trial against Griner has begun – conviction threatened
After almost five months in Russian custody, Griner feels physically weak but mentally healthy, as she assured her wife. But an end to their imprisonment is likely to take time: last Friday there was a first court date. According to Griner’s lawyer, the process will take at least two months. According to dpa reports, the pre-trial detention was extended until the end of December.
According to Russia experts, the fact that proceedings have actually been opened against Griner is more of a sign that Griner will ultimately be convicted. “The Russian legal system has no presumption of innocence“says William Pomeranz of the Kennan Institute in the New York Times. “This means that a case is only actually brought to court when it is assumed that it will end in a guilty verdict.”
According to speculation in the US media, the only way to free Griner from Russian custody would be a prisoner exchange. In view of Griner’s prominence, she is one of the top stars of the WNBA, high demands are likely to be made by the Russian side in possible negotiations. Names circulating in the US media include arms dealer Viktor Bout and hacker Roman Seleznev, both of whom have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the United States.
Open letter from prominent black women
In any case, the pressure on the US government continues to increase. The alert still wasn’t loud enough, said Brianna Turner, who plays with Griner on Phoenix Mercury. Another teammate, Sophie Cunningham, noted that the case might have been handled differently, “if it were LeBron James or Tom Brady.”
As the Washington Post reported, the US President received another letter on Tuesday, signed by 1,200 prominent African American women from business, politics and the entertainment industry. The group of women leaders referred to Griner’s imprisonment as “ongoing human rights violations” and addressed President Biden directly: He must reach an agreement with the Russian side, “to get Brittney home quickly and safely“.