Britney Greiner: US government says WNBA star was unjustly detained in Russia

SPEHA’s office leads and coordinates the government’s diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the release of Americans unjustly detained abroad, and moving into their office means more flexibility in efforts to negotiate their freedom, as they don’t necessarily have to wait for Russian legal action in order to play it out.

Carstens and his team played a key role in securing the release of the American citizen and veteran Trevor Reid From Russia last week.

“When it comes to our efforts to free Americans, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Ambassador Carstens, will go anywhere, talk to anyone if that means we can come home with an American, to reunite that American,” State Department spokesman Ned said. Price on Monday “with her or his family.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the decision to classify Grenier as an unjustly held was made “in coordination with the hostage negotiator.” [Carstens] and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“But typically, and I don’t think that’s going to change, in order to leave the space for an outcome that we all want and want, which is to bring home and any American who is held or unjustifiably detained, we don’t usually do that ‘talk about it extensively’.”

“Britney has been in custody for 75 days and we expect the White House to do whatever is necessary to bring her home,” Greiner’s agent, Lindsey Kagawa Colas, said in a statement.

In addition to work by the Biden administration, the Richardson Center, which advocates specifically on behalf of the families of hostages and detainees and They were involved in bringing Reed home, She also works on behalf of the Griner family to try to secure her release.

“I can confirm that Governor Richardson and the Richardson Center are indeed working on behalf of the Britney family to secure her safe return. Given the ongoing efforts and sensitivities, we are focused on doing rather than speaking at this time,” Mickey Bergman, Vice President and CEO of the Richardson Center said in a statement to CNN. If the.

Grenier, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a Phoenix Mercury WNBA star, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian authorities of smuggling large quantities of a narcotic substance — a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. prison.

She plays with Russian powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason.

On Tuesday, the WNBA said it will honor Griner, the seven-time All-Star, during the 2022 season with her initials and jersey number 42 on the sidelines of all 12 stadiums.

“As the 2022 season begins, we are keeping Britney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community,” WBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert said in a statement.

“We continue to work on bringing Britney home and appreciate the support the community has given BG and her family during this very difficult time.”

The association said Grenier will also receive her full salary from the WNBA.

Last season, Grenier finished second in the vote for the Most Valuable Player award. The 6’9″ spot led Mercury to the WNBA Finals, where Phoenix lost to Chicago Sky in four games.

The WNBA season begins Friday and Phoenix begins their season at home against the Las Vegas Aces.

Russian authorities did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on the State Department’s new classification of the Griner case.

CNN’s Donald Judd contributed to this report.