On February 17, WNBA player Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport after authorities found cartridges containing what was believed to be oil derived from cannabis—a crime that could potentially carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Griner is regarded as one of the best in the league.She plays for the Phoenix Mercury and in a Russian league during her off season. Her arrest appears to be wartime opportunism, as she has been treated as a vile criminal by Russian authorities in the midst of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
During an interview on Full-Court Press with Greta Van Susteren, U.S Senator Tim Kaine expressed his thoughts of Griner being used as a chess piece. “And I think there’s no doubt that her detention, and then this continuation of the imprisonment, is all to try to make her a hostage and a part of this chess game,” Kaine said.
As of Thursday, Russian media outlet TASS has reported that a court hearing has extended Griner’s period of detention until May 19. In addition to this, her request for house arrest was denied according to Insider. The basketball player stands at 6 ft 9 and the conditions of her holding cell are not accommodating to her size.
Those close to Griner have expressed their frustration over the detention and lack of clarity provided by Russian authorities. Several of her family and friends have made statements on several social media outlets voicing their pain throughout the entire situation.
Throughout the entire ordeal there has appeared to be very little uproar. As a black, queer woman, in a league that is not well respected by the general public, it is not surprising that many people of importance or other outlets have not spoken up on behalf of Griner’s situation. Former WNBA player Lisa Leslie went public with what a lot of us have heard behind the scenes, which is that they have been instructed to keep quiet and exercise personal censorship for the sake of a broader political strategy aimed at securing her release and bringing her home.
It is a tactical strategy that has not seemed to be working. Given their history and the near total absence of diplomatic relations between the US and Russia it is very unlikely that Griner will receive a fair trial.
