Brittney Griner has appealed to President Joe Biden in a letter sent to the White House through her representatives saying she fears she will never return home and asking her to “not forget me and the other American detainees.” .
Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said the letter was delivered Monday. Most of the content of the letter to President Biden remains private, although Griner’s representatives shared some lines of the handwritten note.
“I’m sitting here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic shirt or any success, I’m terrified of being able to be here forever,” Griner wrote.
“On July 4, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father, who is a Vietnam War veteran,” the Phoenix Mercury Center added. “It hurts me to think about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist is in the middle of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while playing with her Russian team again. The trial is set to resume on Thursday.
Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted and, unlike U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.
WATCH l Brittney Griner’s trial begins:
American basketball star Brittney Griner appears in Russian court
U.S. women’s basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in Russian court on Friday to face charges of cannabis possession. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years behind bars. The deputy head of mission at the U.S. embassy backed Griner in court, saying the Russian Federation has illegally detained the WNBA player.
The White House National Security Council confirmed that the White House has received the letter from Griner.
“We believe the Russian Federation is unjustly detaining Brittney Griner,” NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Monday. “President Biden has made clear the need to see the release of all American citizens who are taken hostage or unjustly detained abroad, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively, using all means. available, to take home. “
Griner begged Biden in the letter to use his powers to secure his return.
“Please do everything you can to take us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have a lot to do with my freedom that you can help restore.” said Griner. “I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my classmates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I appreciate everything you can do right now to get me home.”
Griner has been able to have sporadic communications with family, friends and WNBA players through an email account his agent has created. His lawyer prints the emails and delivers them in groups to Griner after Russian officials review them. Once the lawyers return to their office, they will scan Griner’s answers and return them to the United States to send them.
He was supposed to have had a phone call with his wife on his birthday, but failed due to a “regrettable mistake,” according to Biden administration officials.
Griner supporters have encouraged a prisoner exchange like the one in April that took home Navy veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy. In May, the State Department designated her as an illegal detainee and transferred her case under the supervision of her presidential special envoy for hostage affairs, effectively the government’s chief hostage negotiator.
Griner is not the only American unjustly detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, a former director of navy and security, is serving a 16-year sentence for an espionage sentence.