Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
As the date approaches for Brittney Griner’s next appeal, the whole world has its eyes on the controversial WNBA star. She has been all over the news following her arrest earlier this year. Brittney Griner was in Russia to join her teammates in UMMC Ekaterinburg when she was arrested for carrying illegal drugs in her luggage.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Subsequently, she was part of a long legal battle. After confessing, the court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison. The officials have been trying their best to find a solution and help Griner.
One of the solutions being taken into consideration is a prisoner swap. The Joe Biden administration has been trying a swap deal to bring Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan back to the United States of America. However, negotiations have been far from simple.
While some laud the government’s efforts to bring back Griner, some do not approve of it. Mickey Bergman, vice president, and executive director of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement commented on the situation and called it “intellectually lazy and morally bankrupt.“
Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: Brittney Griner #42 and Brianna Turner #21 of the Phoenix Mercury talk on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 30, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mercury defeated the Aces 117-91. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
This comes in response to an official who talked “about the need to bring [Griner and Whelan] home.”Interestingly enough, Bergman was one of the officials who visited Moscow to meet officials about two former Marines. He played a huge role in bringing back Trevor Reed from Russia.
In case the officials are able to pull off the prisoner swap, they would have to hand over notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russia. According to reports, Bout will be used to bring back Whelan and Griner to the United States.
The POTUS has been openly in support of Brittney Griner
Ever since her arrest and sentencing in Russia, Brittney Griner has received both support and hate from around the world. The POTUS Joe Biden has been quite supportive of the Phoenix Mercury star.
Moreover, he held a dinner with the families of Griner and Whelan. After a Russian court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison, The White House sent out an official statement. The statement referred to Griner’s sentencing as ‘unacceptable’ while also accusing Russia of ‘wrongfully detaining Brittney’.
WATCH THIS STORY: “I Like Her”: Shaquille O’Neal Admits Friendship with 45 Year Old Actress Caught in Ime Udoka and Celtics Crossfire
What are your thoughts on the Brittney Griner situation? Let us know in the comments down below.
