- A close aide of Vladimir Putin claimed that Brittney griner’s release was not Russia’s main issue.
- Aside also stated that he did not believe US President Joe Biden prioritizes her release.
- Griner was wrongly detained in Russia for eight months on charges of drug smuggling.
A Russian aide said that releasing Brittney Griner (an American WNBA player) from a Russian jail is not Russia’s “main issue”.
Griner was taken into custody at Moscow’s airport in February this year. According to A New York Times report Griner — who has been wrongfully detained on drug smuggling charges for over eight months — has been moved to a penal colony It is possible to live in extremely harsh conditions.
According to The GuardianIn an interview with Rossiya-1, Yury Ushakov, Putin’s close aide, stated that Griner’s freedom was not the country’s “main concern.”
He claimed that Biden only mentioned her because of the US midterm election.
“In this tense circumstance, I believe that he thinks first and foremost about the forthcoming midterm elections. He keeps emphasizing how important it is to bring back the basketball player detained for drug smuggling. Rossiya-1 was not concerned by it, Ushako said.
Biden has spoken out publicly on Griner’s release multiple times. reunited with her familyAfter writing the letter to the basketball star in July, Biden administration sent it in September. Also, the Biden administration previously ProposedGriner and Paul Whelan swapped their prisoner sentences. Russian arms dealer Viktor BoutHe is currently in prison in the US.
Insider reached out to the White House and State Department for clarification but they did not immediately reply.
According to the Guardian Biden stated that he would talk with Putin at the G20 summit, if he was open to Griner being released.
Biden stated, “Look, I don’t intend to meet with him.” “But, for example if he came up to me at G20 and said that ‘I want talk about Griner’, then I would meet him.”
Grinder AppealedAfter her August sentence was handed down, Griner received a nine-year sentence. According to The Times Griner’s detention has seen her confined to a small bed and fluctuating temperatures in difficult weather conditions. This has caused her health to suffer.
Cherelle Griner, Griner’s spouse, told CBS News recently during a “disturbing telephone call”Griner, the WNBA superstar was having a difficult time finding motivation to continue fighting the charges against her and her detention.
