How Long is Brittney Griner Been Detained in Russia?
US President Joe Biden has received a letter from American basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been arrested in Russia. Ms. Griner has been detained for nearly four months now on suspicion of drug trafficking, according to Russian authorities.
It was revealed in a letter she sent on Monday that she was afraid she would never return to the United States. According to the White House, Obama has read the letter from the Mercury player.
In her letter, which arrived on the Fourth of July, Ms. Griner also reminded the president of her father’s service in Vietnam. There were also other Americans held by Russia, which she reminded the president about.
Since her detention at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 17, Ms Griner has been detained in Russian custody for allegedly having cannabis oil in her luggage.
In the event that she is found guilty, she might face a sentence of up to ten years in prison. In Russia, less than 1% of criminal offenders are acquitted.
It is worth noting that even if she is found not guilty, Russia’s government has the power to overrule the verdict and imprison her, unlike in US courts.
The two-time Olympic champion plays in Russia during the off-season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Since 2014, Ms. Griner has been a member of the EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg.
The majority of WNBA players participate in off-season competitions abroad. WNBA players are paid five times more in Russia than they are in the United States, so for most, it’s a method to supplement their domestic income.
