The US embassy in Russia has been in contact with Brittney Griner, CNN reports. The basketball star is in a Russian prison after she was arrested in February at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow for carrying a bottle of cannabis oil and vape cartridges in her hand luggage.
“A few hours ago, a person in charge of our embassy was given permission to see Brittney Griner,” Ned Price said on behalf of the US embassy on Wednesday. The basketball star is “in good health, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure she is treated appropriately.”
The 31-year-old American is one of the best basketball players of the moment. The 2.06m tall center won two world titles and two gold Olympic medals with the US. She plays for the Russian top club Yekaterinburg.
That court ruled last week that Griner must remain in prison until at least May 19. She faces a 10-year prison term.
WNBA
The WNBA, the organization that hosts the top women’s basketball league in the United States, said in a statement that it is working with the US government to get Griner released. The war between Russia and Ukraine is a complicating factor. Diplomatic talks between Russia and the US have fallen to zero in recent weeks.
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