Brittney Griner’s wife calls out US over WNBA star’s detainment in Russia as she opens up about ‘difficult situation’
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, has called out the US over the WNBA star’s detainment in Russia as she opens up about the “difficult situation.”
Brittney has been detained for more than 130 days after a scan of her belongings at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport revealed that she allegedly had cartridges containing liquid with hashish oil.
“It’s difficult,” Cherelle Griner said, speaking to CNN.
“It’s really, really difficult.
“This is not a situation where the rhetoric is matching the action.
“And so I can’t just take the fact that this is somebody’s job to bring home my wife and go off grid and focus to that degree. I can’t do that.
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“I do have to, unfortunately, also push people to make sure the things they’re telling me is also matching their actions,” Cherelle said.
“And so it has been the hardest thing to balance because I can’t let up.
“It’s over 130 days and BG is still not back.”
Cherelle also said she doesn’t believe the maximum effort is being put forth to bring her wife home.
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“I hate to say that because I do trust that the persons working on this are very genuine people – that I do believe.
“But I don’t think the maximum amount of effort is being done because, again, the rhetoric and the actions don’t match.”
Cherelle goes on to say that Brittney called the US embassy 11 times and no one answered.
“It would’ve been in her best interest for her phone call to have been answered.
“It would be in her best interest for her to be back on US soil.”
BRITTNEY’S TRIAL BEGINS
Brittney was arrested on February 17 and a criminal case was opened.
She was in Russia competing for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA’s offseason when she was arrested.
U.S. officials and the WNBA kept news of Brittney’s arrest and detention quiet until the State Department reclassified her as being “wrongfully detained” and shifted oversight of her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
On March 17, 2020, her detention was extended to May 19, but after a court hearing on May 13, Russian authorities extended it another 30 days and denied her request for house arrest, ESPN reported.
Just days ago, new photos of Brittney emerged of the WNBA star looking shaken as she appeared in court to set a date for her trial, which began on July 1.
The athlete was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her trial.
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Brittney had previously been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until July 2.
The Phoenix Mercury player may face 10 years in prison if she is convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs.