“The president called on Cherelle to assure her that she is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. citizens who are unjustly detained or held hostage in Russia and “She also read a draft of the letter the president is sending to Brittney Griner today,” the White House said.
Griner wrote in a letter delivered Monday to Biden that she fears she may be detained in Russia indefinitely.
“While I am sitting here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, my family, friends, the Olympic shirt or any success, I am terrified of being able to be here forever,” an excerpt of the letter obtained. by CNN earlier this week he said.
Griner wrote, “I realize you’re dealing with a lot of things, but please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Do everything you can to take us home. I voted first time in 2020 and I voted for you .. I believe in you.I still have so much to do with my freedom that you can help me get it back.I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss you “My comrades! It kills me to know that they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for all you can do right now to take me home,” he wrote.
The White House said Biden “offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and pledged to ensure they were provided with all possible assistance while his administration seeks all avenues to bring Brittney home. “.
Biden also led his team to stay in “regular contact” with the family of Cherelle and Brittney Griner.
The 31-year-old Griner, who has played in Russia during the WNBA low season, was arrested on February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling large amounts of a narcotic substance, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. On Friday she was tried in a court near Moscow on drug trafficking charges.
Griner’s supporters and U.S. officials say she has been unjustly detained and have called for her release as fears grow that she will be used as a political pawn amid growing tensions between Russia and the United States.
Other detainees have not yet received a response
A coalition of hostage families and U.S. detainees who wrote a joint letter to Biden asking to meet with him has yet to receive a response, his spokesman said Wednesday. The statement about the lack of response to the “Bring Our Families Home” campaign came just before the news that Biden and Harris spoke with Cherelle Griner.
In mid-June, the “Bring Our Families Home” campaign wrote a letter to Biden formally asking him to meet with the campaign management team, stating that “it has become clear to us that without your direct involvement, other issues will continue to overshadow the release of our innocent relatives. “
In the days following that letter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with families of Americans unjustly detained and detained abroad. He did not promise a meeting with Biden, but tried to assure them that the administration is doing everything possible to bring their loved ones home.
Jonathan Franks, the campaign spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday that “so far, the campaign has not received a response.”
There has been a growing frustration among the families of illicit detainees abroad who feel that the Biden administration is not doing enough to secure the release of their loved ones. In recent weeks, several of these detainees have appealed directly to Biden to try to get him to do more.
Paul Whelan, who is also detained in Russia, said in a statement on Monday: “As the United States celebrates Independence Day, American citizens are being held hostage around the world. it’s free “.
Last week, Siamak Namazi, who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2015, published an opinion piece in The New York Times, in which he wrote: “I am forced to break this silence now because I believe the approach of the Biden administration for rescuing troubled Americans. in Iran it has failed dramatically so far and, unless the president intervenes immediately, we are likely to languish in that abyss in the foreseeable future. “
Franks noted that “when unjustly detained Americans communicate publicly from behind bars, they run the risk of being punished for doing so, which makes their courage even more remarkable.”
“The fact that the loved ones of our constituent families felt the need to write these open communications to President Biden speaks to the extent to which many hostage families feel disappointed, left behind and often ghosted by wing makers. When families receive “responses” are often superficial and unresponsive, ”he said in the statement.
This story has been updated with additional information.