US Embassy Officials Visiting WNBA Bintang Britney Griner In Russian Prisons, This Is In Condition

JAKARTA - US Embassy officials in Moscow visited Britney Griner on Thursday, just weeks after a Russian court rejected the WNBA star's appeal for a nine-year sentence for drug possession.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a tweet that American representatives "see firsthand his tenacity and persistence regardless of his current state."

Price continued, the Biden administration continues to press for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, who in 2020 were sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia on charges of espionage that he and his family called fake, and "fair treatment for every American detained."

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Griner was "in good condition as expected" and that the government was working hard "to resolve the unacceptable and wrong detention of Griner and Whelan."

Griner was convicted in August after police found a vape tube filled with marijuana oil in his suitcase at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. His arrest in February came at a time when tensions between Moscow and Washington escalated, just days before Russia sent troops to Ukraine. At that time, Griner returned to play for the Russian team during the WNBA offseason.

During the trial, Griner admitted he had the tubes in his trunk, but testified that he packaged them accidentally for rush and had no criminal intentions. His lawyer called the punishment excessive.

The United States regards Griner and Whelan as the wrong detainees and has tried to negotiate with Russia for their release. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said during the summer that the US had made a "substantial proposal" to Russia to try to bring the two home.

People familiar with the offer said the US wanted to swap Whelan and Griner with Russia's convicted arms dealer, Viktor Bout. Since then, there have been no signs of progress in the negotiations.

Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with the president to New Mexico that "despite the lack of good faith negotiations by Russia, the US government continues to follow up on the offer and propose potential alternative ways forward with Russia through all available channels. This remains a top priority."