On Tuesday, Russian state TV launched an image of Brittney Griner, days after it was revealed that the WNBA star had been detained in Russia. The picture, reportedly her reserving photograph, exhibits Griner holding a paper along with her identify on it whereas standing in a police station after being arrested in February. Per the report from CNN, the photograph initially aired on state tv on Saturday, the day it was introduced that Griner was in custody, however was not launched till later.
Russian state TV has launched a photograph of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested on drug expenses within the nation after Russian officers say hashish oil was present in her baggage. CNN’s @RosaFlores has the story. pic.twitter.com/SzB9MSSQfY
— CNN (@CNN) March 8, 2022
Griner was arrested on allegations that she was carrying hashish oil on the airport. A Russian official defined the scenario, saying (translation by way of CNN), “An skilled decided that the liquid is a narcotic drug, hashish oil. A legal case has been opened towards an American citizen for smuggling a big quantity of medication.” Smuggling narcotics in Russia may end up in imprisonment for as many as 10 years.
There is no such thing as a date on the reserving photograph, and no indication of how lengthy Griner has been in custody. Russian officers have stated that Griner was detained after a flight from New York, so she was presumably returning to her crew, UMMC Ekaterinberg, the place she has performed through the WNBA offseasons since 2014. Ekaterinberg had a break for worldwide play, together with the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 20. Reporting from the Wall Road Journal suggests Griner might have arrived again in Russia round Feb. 17:
A evaluate of images on social media exhibits that Griner gave the impression to be in a resort adjoining to John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport in New York on Feb. 16 sporting the identical black hooded sweatshirt that she was seen sporting on video safety footage inside Moscow’s airport later launched by Russia. An Aeroflot flight left New York at evening on Feb. 16 and landed in Moscow on the morning of Feb. 17. UMMC Ekaterinburg’s first recreation after the worldwide break was Feb. 20.
Ekaterinberg performed its subsequent recreation on Feb. 20 with a number of different American-based gamers, together with Jonquel Jones and Allie Quigley. Each gamers suited up once more on Feb. 23, together with Quigley’s spouse Courtney Vandersloot. The American contingent performed as soon as extra on Feb. 27 earlier than exiting the nation previous to the crew’s March 2 contest. There was no point out of Griner’s absence on the field scores for these three video games.
Simply landed in Turkey and all I need to do is cry. That scenario was far more disturbing than I spotted. Thanks God for all the time watching over and defending me
— Jonquel Jones (@jus242) March 2, 2022
The WNBA and WNBPA related with gamers in Ukraine and Russia as the specter of an invasion escalated. Per the Wall Road Journal, Griner is the one participant who stays in both nation. USA Basketball, the WNBA, the gamers affiliation, and the Phoenix Mercury have all put out statements in assist of Griner since her detention turned public.
Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas informed ESPN that she has been involved with Griner as Colas works with Griner’s household and attorneys to extricate her from this case.
“We’re conscious of the scenario with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in shut contact along with her, her authorized illustration in Russia, her household, her groups, and the WNBA and NBA,” Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent with Wasserman Group, informed ESPN by way of an announcement Saturday. “As that is an ongoing authorized matter, we aren’t in a position to remark additional on the specifics of her case however can affirm that as we work to get her residence, her psychological and bodily well being stay our main concern.”
The selective dissemination of particulars relating to Griner raises extra considerations about her whereabouts. It additionally poses questions on what Russian information companies, that are managed by the state, hope to perform by releasing this data at these delayed dates.
