Brittney Griner, an Olympian, was sent to a Russian jail colony to start serving her nine-year sentence abroad. The WNBA star has been unjustly jailed since mid-February after local officials found cannabis oil in her suitcase while she was passing through an airport.
“Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure unjustified incarceration in Russia is a minute too long,” declared Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, in a statement released this morning. The president has instructed the administration to persuade her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she could have to undergo in a penal colony, Jean-Pierre added, as the administration continues to fight tirelessly to win her release. As we’ve already stated, the U.S. government made a big offer to the Russians to end the ongoing, unjustified incarceration of the American people.
JUST IN:
White House Statement on the Continued Wrongful Detention of American Brittney Griner#RussiaIsATerroristState pic.twitter.com/eOdL2y9zfe
— Alex Raufoglu (@ralakbar) November 9, 2022
Russian officials have declined to uphold their end of a “good faith agreement” to free Griner, according to Jean-statement. Pierre’s Before concluding the release, Jean-Pierre promised that other Americans would not be overlooked in the fight to free the Phoenix Mercury ball player. He added, “The U.S. government has continued to follow up on that offer and propose alternative potential ways forward with the Russians through all available channels.” The U.S. government is steadfast in its dedication to advocating for Brittney and other Americans held in Russia, including Paul Whelan, a fellow unjust detainee.
Fox News claims that once Griner is in the jail colony, she will experience harsh treatment and have no access to her family. Lindsay Colas, the athlete’s agent, also released a statement today. She said, “Our main worry remains BG’s health and well-being. “We beg for the public’s help in continuing to write letters and express their love and concern for her as we struggle through this extremely tough phase of not knowing precisely where BG is or how she is doing,” Colas wrote.
