American basketball star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for more than a month. The spokesperson for the United States Embassy reported reassuring information on Wednesday about his physical condition. “A few hours ago, an official from our embassy was authorized to see Brittney Griner,” Ned Price told CNN.
This officer “found her in good health, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that she is treated fairly throughout this process”, he said.
No consular access had been granted so far to the 31-year-old basketball player, arrested on February 17 at an airport near Moscow with “vaporizers and a liquid with a particular smell” of cannabis oil, according to Russian customs. . The one who is considered one of the best players in the world faces up to ten years in prison. She was placed in a detention center, from where – by a decision of a Russian court – she will not be able to leave before May 19.
A bed far too small for its 2.06 meters
The arrest of this openly lesbian double Olympic medalist was not revealed to the general public until 15 days after her arrest on March 5. Meanwhile, Russian forces had invaded Ukraine, triggering an international crisis and significant US sanctions against Moscow. Washington fears the player will be used as a pressure tool in the dispute and has so far kept a low profile on her case.
Many players from the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) compete in European leagues during the off-season in the United States, including the Russian and Ukrainian leagues.
Last week, the Russian public news agency TASS revealed the first details on the conditions of detention of the basketball player. In a cell she shares with two other people, Brittney Griner reads Dostoyevsky, according to the agency. She did not, according to the media, complain about her conditions, despite a bed far too small for her 2.06 meters.