The arrest of two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner has left supporters anxious about her well-being and fearful that she might become a political pawn.
Russian authorities said Griner had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance -- an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.It's still not clear exactly when Griner was arrested last month, or where she's being detained now.
She described feeling detached from much of the world while living in Russia."Being in Russia, I was kind of in a bubble," Elonu said. A member of Russia's Federal Customs Service described the charge against Griner to Russia 24, the country's main state-owned news channel. "Our diplomatic relationships with Russia are nonexistent at the moment," Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of California told CNN on Monday.
Griner's high school basketball coach, Debbie Jackson, said she worries Griner's case will be used for political purposes.But the Biden administration is working on trying to get Griner out of Russia, members of the Congressional Black Caucus said after meeting with President Joe Biden on Monday.