Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the United States will “provide every possible assistance” to citizens who are being detained in foreign countries, including WNBA star Brittney Griner.
Ms. Griner, the former college basketball standout at Baylor and a WNBA champion, is currently being detained in Russia after customs officials said they found vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow in February. During a news conference Sunday, Mr. Blinken didn’t comment specifically on Ms. Griner’s case, but he did give assurances that the situation is being monitored by U.S. diplomats.
“There’s only so much I can say given privacy considerations at this point,” Mr. Blinken said of Griner, who is facing a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison, according to customs officials. “Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia.”
“We have an embassy team that’s working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia,” he added. “We’re doing everything we can to see to it that their rights are upheld and respected.”
Diplomats were working to ensure the release of American basketball player Brittney Griner after Russia said she had been detained for possession of vape cartridges containing hash oil, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said https://t.co/9RkDgrAQTI pic.twitter.com/RAossg7c9k
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 7, 2022
Ms. Griner, like many WNBA players, was playing overseas in Russia during the offseason. The State Department had issued a “do not travel” advisory for Russia on Jan. 23, warning Americans from traveling to the country due to the “potential for harassment against U.S. citizens.”
The 31-year-old first became a household name as a college basketball star at Baylor. At 6-foot-9, she is one of the few women’s basketball players to ever dunk in a game. She won a WNBA title with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014 and gold medals for the U.S. at the Olympics in 2016 and 2021.
“We are aware and are closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia,” the Mercury said in a statement. “We remain in constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA and NBA. We love and support Britney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.”
On Saturday, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said Russia has “no right” to hold Ms. Griner and demanded her release.
“We know that there were some issues dealing with vape cartridges and other items but let me be very clear,” said Ms. Lee, a Texas Democrat who represents Ms. Griner’s hometown of Houston. “Brittney Griner is a United States citizen, she was a guest in Russia…and I will be demanding her release.”
“I don’t want to disregard a sovereign nation but Putin has disregarded sovereign nations his entire service in this world,” Ms. Lee added. “Anyone that is killing and attacking and destroying Ukraine, a neighboring country that is not bothering them, has no right to hold Ms. Griner. Period.”
This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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