The WNBA star, Brittney Griner was detained in Russia for over 215 days and counting. On February 17, airport authorities in Moscow detained the Phoenix Mercury Center after discovering vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her hand luggage. Griner was given a nine-year prison term after she pleaded guilty to the charges against her.
Griner was frightened throughout the entire situation, and the last few texts she sent to her wife, Cherelle Griner, prove how distressed she was at that time. The airport authorities confiscated all her belongings including her personal phone. Her wife was the last person to receive a text from her before she was detained.
After the detention of Griner, her wife, Cherelle appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” show back in May. She provided details on all the activities leading up to Brittney Griner’s arrest. She continued by saying that she was the first to learn from Griner that Brittney was being detained at the airport.
As per Cherelle, the 2014 WNBA champ texted, “Babe, babe, babe, wake up, they have me in this room. I don’t know what’s going on.” Cherelle immediately enquired about more information. Griner disclosed that she had been taken during the security check by Moscow customs and imprisoned in a room.
Additionally, the WNBA All-Star’s last text was, “They are about to take my phone, don’t text anymore.” Cherelle urged Brittney to give her a call whenever she could but it was too late. After that day, Mrs. Griner never heard from her wife again. Since then, a terrified wife has been asking the government to intervene, and although the officials did a little bit to clarify the situation, they are still very distant from taking any concrete action.
Brittney is still detained because of the escalating tension between Russia and the USA. The Russian government won’t release Griner so simply, and despite receiving swap proposals, they haven’t confirmed anything yet.
