“I’m afraid to stay in a Russian prison forever”: Greiner wrote a letter to Biden

American in Russian prison

Famous American basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been on trial since mid-February, appealed to US President Joe Biden to do everything in her power to release him.

The athlete, who has played in Yekaterinburg UMMC for the last four years, is currently on trial for drug trafficking. The first meeting was held on July 1, the next will be held on July 7.

Recall that on February 17, Greiner was detained by Russian customs officers while crossing the “green corridor”. Border dogs reacted to it, and as a result, poppy oil, which is banned in Russia, was found in the smoking device. This substance is not banned in the USA.

Greiner was detained and has been under investigation ever since. Now, a lawsuit has started against him.

Letter to Biden

While in custody, the athlete wrote an appeal letter to US President Joe Biden. This message was timed to coincide with the Independence Day of the States.

“Please do everything in your power to bring me home. Sitting alone in a Russian prison with my thoughts, without my family and friends, I fear that I may stay here forever,” he quotes Politico Greiner, who received the text of the letter. On July 4, our family is usually in Vietnam It honors those who fought for our freedom, including my war veteran father. It pains me to think that freedom meant something completely different to me this year.

Please do your best. I voted for you in 2020 and I believe in your help. There is so much to do about freedom in my life.

I miss my family. I miss my teammates! It’s killing me that they’re in so much pain right now. I am grateful for anything you can do to get me home as soon as possible.”

The letter he wrote to his family was also reflected in the press just before the start of the process.

“I’m fine, I’m hardened. But now it’s not me. It will take some time to recover when I get home, but I’m holding on. I won’t be broken until I get home. I won’t let them pull me down. I know they’re trying but I’ll do anything to hold on until I get home,” Greiner wrote at the end of June.

“Unlawful Detention”

In the United States, the arrest and prosecution of a basketball superstar is considered illegal, and many sports and political figures have repeatedly spoken out in support of the athlete.

“We believe the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Brittney Griner,” said Adrienne Watson, Chair of the US National Security Council. “President Biden has made it clear that all American citizens held hostage or illegally detained abroad must be released. The US government continues to work actively to bring him home, using all available means.”

Options to swap Brittney for one of the Russians imprisoned in the US are reportedly being considered, but still no real progress has been made. At the same time, many in the United States believe that the basketball player is held hostage for political reasons.

Until the end of the process, as a result of which the American is threatened with a period of up to ten years, this is unlikely to happen, but options are possible later.

basketball superstar

Greiner, 31, is understated a legend in women’s basketball. He has two victories for the USA team at the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

As part of the Phoenix Mercury club, where the women played in the summer of the NBA, she scored a victory in this league in 2014.

Greiner has been playing for Yekaterinburg UMMC since 2015, during which time she managed to become two-time Russian champion and once a Women’s Euroleague bronze medalist.

Griner came out in 2013 and has been married to 28-year-old Sherel Watson since 2019 and this is the athlete’s second marriage.

American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport in February on suspicion of drug trafficking, wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden, asking her to “do everything” to be released from the pre-trial detention center in Russia. In the US, Greiner’s detention is considered illegal, although transportation of the hash oil in his smoking device is prohibited under Russian law.



Source: Gazeta

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