Brittney Griner, in her first public statement after being freed from imprisonment in Russia, said she would return to the Phoenix Mercury again and fight to free wrongful detainees outside the United States.
Brittney Griner, in her first public statement after being freed from imprisonment in Russia, said she would return to the Phoenix Mercury again and fight to free wrongful detainees outside the United States.
Brittney Griner Returns to US grounds and Supports Paul Whelan
Brittney Griner a WNBA star was Freed from a Russian jail and got her first taste of a return to normal life over the weekend at a Texas military facility. despite her return, Griner is heartbroken that Paul Whelan is still detained.
The Olympic gold medalist arrived Friday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio where she is currently staying with her wife, Cherelle Griner, in a residential area on the base. Griner, 32, is “grateful, thankful and hopeful,” said Griner after returning to the states from what US officials unjust wrongful detention in Russia.
Paul Whelan Ex-Marine Imprisoned in Russia
Joe Biden’s administration attempted to free Paul Whelan that has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018, including him together with Griner’s prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout, however, Russia refused the request.
In an exclusive CNN interview with Paul Whelan was devastated and disappointed that more has not been done to secure his release. Although, Whelan is happy that Griner was released but still he is frustrated with his self-being.
In June 2020, Whelan had an unjust judgment he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Furthermore, he was a former marine who has citizenship in the US, Irish, UK, and Canada, and was arrested at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 by Russian authorities who accused him that he was involved in an intelligence operation.
US authorities said that the Russians refused to release him despite US efforts at negotiations because the Russians have accused him of being a spy.
