Brittney Griner, star basketball player of the Phoenix Mercury, has been seen for the first time since news of her February arrest in Russia broke last week.
The Russia Federal Customs Servicesaid in a statementon Saturday that the athlete – who, like many professional women’s basketball players, plays overseas in Russia during the WNBA offseason – had flown to Moscow from New York in February when a customs service dog at the Sheremetyevo International Airport indicated that drugs were possibly located inside her carry-on bag.
Customs officers searched the bag andallegedly foundvape cartridges that contained liquid with hash oil. Griner was later taken into custody.
A criminal case against Griner has been opened, and if convicted of her alleged charges, Russian officials said Griner could be sentenced up to ten years in prison, according to CNN.
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In an Instagram post on Monday,Brittney’s wife Cherelleshared a selfie Brittney took with what appeared to be the couple’s family. Alongside the image, Cherelle wrote, “We love you babe! People say ‘stay busy.’ Yet, there’s not a task in this world that could keep any of us from wondering if you are safe.”
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The basketball star’s detainment and alleged charges come as tensions with U.S. and Russia relations continue to increase amid the country’s invasion of its neighboring country of Ukraine.
source: people.com
