Brittney Griner

2022 - 3 - 5

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

WNBA star Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug charges (Aljazeera.com)

Griner arrested in February at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said her luggage contained vape cartridges.

The customs service said the detained woman faces a potential jail term of five to 10 years. It added that an inspection of hand luggage carried by a US citizen who arrived on a flight from New York in February “confirmed the presence of ‘vapes’ (and) a liquid with a specific smell”. USA Basketball is aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns.

U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug ... (The Globe and Mail)

Russian Customs Service says vape cartridges found after search of Griner's luggage contained oil derived from cannabis.

She last played for her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on Jan. 29 before the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments. Russian media reported the player was Griner, and her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, did not dispute those reports. The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

U.S. working to secure release of basketball star Brittney Griner ... (Toronto Sun)

WASHINGTON — Diplomats were working to ensure the release of seven-time WNBA All-Star player Brittney Griner after Russia said it had detained the player ...

It’s critical that now we use our collective voice to call for her safe and swift return to her family.” Article content It was not clear when in February Griner, who plays in Russia during the WNBA’s winter off-season, was detained. Russian news agency TASS identified the player as Griner, citing a source. Article content Article content

Report: WNBA star Brittney Griner being held in custody in Russia (Sportsnet.ca)

The Russian Federal Customs Service said it had detained an American basketball player last month. The player has been identified as WNBA All-Star Brittney ...

The footage shows her bag being scanned and subsequently searched while moving through airport security, at which point a package is removed from her luggage. On Saturday, the U.S. State Department issued a "do not travel" advisory for Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine and urged all U.S. citizens to depart immediately, citing factors including "the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials" and "the Embassy's limited ability to assist" Americans in Russia. "We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA," said Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas in a statement obtained by ESPN Saturday. "As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern." "Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States," said the league in a statement to ESPN. The Russian Federal Customs Service said it had detained an American basketball player last month. A criminal case on the large-scale transportation of drugs has been opened on the basketball player, according to the statement obtained by the Times from Customs Service — an offence that can carry up to 10 years imprisonment in Russia.

Commenting on WNBA star Brittney Griner, Secretary of State ... (ESPN)

Reacting to WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will "provide every possible ...

"We have an embassy team that's working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia," he added. Reacting to WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the United States will "provide every possible assistance" to citizens who are being held in foreign countries. "There's only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point," Blinken said of Griner. "Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia."

New York Times: Brittney Griner, two-time Olympic gold medalist ... (CNN)

Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time Women's National Basketball Association All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury basketball team, ...

We will continue to closely monitor and look forward to her return to the US." "I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. The women's National Basketball Players Association said in a statement it is "aware of the situation in Russia concerning one of our members, Brittney Griner. Our utmost concern is BG's safety and well-being. The Phoenix Mercury said it is "closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia" as they remain in "constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA and NBA. We love and support Brittney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home." USA Basketball, the governing body for sport in the United States, said in a statement it is "aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns." "I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life," Cherelle Griner wrote in her Instagram post.