The US government has been able to contact two-time Olympic basketball champion Brittney Griner, who is being held in Moscow.
Consular access to Griner was granted on Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. “The consular officer who visited Brittney Griner was able to assure himself that she is doing as well as can be expected in these very difficult circumstances.”
The US State Department had previously urged consular care. Last week it was said that the US government had been denied access to Griner. Griner is in custody at Moscow Airport after being arrested for alleged drug possession. A court in the Moscow region in the city of Khimki had extended the arrest until May 19.
As the Interfax news agency reported in early March, citing Russian customs, so-called vape cartridges and hashish oil were discovered in the American’s luggage during an inspection in February. According to the information, you face five to ten years in prison. The 31-year-old US international has also played for the UMMC Yekaterinburg team in the Urals since 2015. Griner won the Euroleague four times with the top Russian club.
