Controversial WNBA star Brittney Griner has the whole world talking about her. She was arrested earlier this year after officials found vape cartridges containing illegal drugs in her luggage. Griner was in Russia in order to join her teammates at UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Ever since her controversial arrest, Griner’s wife Cherelle has been constantly supporting her wife and giving updates about the Phoenix Mercury star. This has been used against Griner by the state.

According to experts, Russians are indulging in operationalized trolling. Moreover, Cherelle Griner’s regular media appearances are also being enjoyed by the officials according to Jonathan Franks who is a hostage negotiation expert.

“Every time Cherelle goes on TV, there’s sort of an earthquake, and everybody covers it because she’s a powerful advocate for her wife“, said Franks. 

“I’m sure that that is quite enjoyable for [the Russians] to watch chaos ensue and feel like they can provoke it at any time by sending Brittney to court or by adversely affecting her prison conditions“, Franks added.

The Russian court recently rejected Brittney Griner’s appeals on the 25th of October. So what does this mean? Griner will have to serve her nine-year sentence in Russia unless the officials come to terms on the prisoner swap deal.

Officials from both countries have been negotiating a prisoner swap for quite some time. Notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout has been named in the deal that can bring back Brittney Griner to the United States. Moreover, this deal can also bring back former Marine Paul Whelan from Russia.

Brittney Griner struggling in prison according to her wife

The Phoenix Mercury star has spent a long time in prison. Subsequently, this has deteriorated her mental and physical well-being. A few weeks prior to Griner’s appeal date, she was on a call with her wife.

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Cherelle Griner described the call as “the most disturbing call I’ve ever experienced“. Moreover, she also talked about Griner’s disturbing state in prison. According to Cherelle, the former Olympic Gold Medallist is “at her absolute weakest moment in life right now”.

The prisoner swap deal remains to be Griner’s last hope. Due to the complexity of the case, negotiations between the two countries have been tough. However, the POTUS and the officials are trying to find a solution for the two-time Olympic champion.

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