Fears grow Russia could use US basketball star Brittney Griner as 'hostage'

[yaesu]

A Texas congresswoman has called for Russia to release Brittney Griner as fears grow Vladimir Putin could use the US basketball star as a pawn during the war in Ukraine.

The two-time Olympic champion has been detained by Russian customs authorities, who claim they discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. The arrest took place last month and the 31-year-old faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of bringing drugs into Russia.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/06/brittney-griner-arrest-russia-drugs-charges-wnba-basketball-wnba-ukraine

[XanaDUer2]

1. Having Watched Locked Up Abroad

Would never chance anything in a totalitarian country.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Don't take the cops' word that she did.

[DURHAM D]

2. "into" ???

I thought she was leaving the country. Was she arriving?

[yaesu]

8. It happened before the invasion so she may have been in business as usual mode for a game or

meetings though by that time russia was probably looking to make some arrests of high profile people before the invasion. Its also strange that not a peep was released to the press when she was arrested & that it all game out now. She may have still been leaving with her vape stuff which would still be considered as bringing into the country.

[Biophilic]

3. Good grief, the Russians have an entire nation they are trying to hold as hostages.

I'm sorry for her, but she is one person against the destruction of an entire nation.

[Sneederbunk]

5. Both US and Russia have bigger fish to fry right now.

[Takket]

6. i'm so confused by this story......

This arrest happened about a month ago. Why is it only coming out now? I find it bizarre that someone that well known (she isn't a household name by any means, but she is familiar to many millions) has just been held in Russia for weeks now and no one has said a word about it??? Until now??? Hasn't her family or team been asking where she is???

[yaesu]

9. This was my exact question yesterday when the news was posted, why now? Even if pooty kept

it secret why didn't friends, family or the organization announce it? Weird.

[stopdiggin]

10. thought about this as well

And I think the answer is that American authorities, sports officials, ect. - were trying very hard not to ruffle feathers and roil the waters, in what was already an extremely tense situation. Calling the Russian authorities bullies and morons (in the public sphere) wasn't likely to get a favorable result - and that is what everybody was desperately hoping for. But, yes, family, teammates and the WNBA have known about this situation from the beginning.

[Walleye]

7. Of course they will. That's why they planted the drugs on her in the first place

[alittlelark]

11. Truly...... I don't believe any of it.

She is a high profile American, easy target.

[stopdiggin]

12. curiously, teammates, etc. have not

come forward with protestations of innocence. (Perhaps to avoid angering Russian authority? Delicate situation. But then, they have you to step into the breach and fill the void ---- ----)

[Sneederbunk]

13. Has she used the "drugs weren't mine" defense yet?

[Walleye]

14. I don't think she gets Miranda rights or a court appointed attorney

I’m just positive she was framed. Corrupt cops everywhere especially in Russia

[Hugin]

16. Finding things in luggage is second only to tea parties by an open window...

For the not-so-former KGB.

A friend of mine discovered a 10,000 ruble note tucked in their bags when they arrived back in the US after a diplomatic trip during the ‘80s. At the time it was illegal for anyone to have a denomination higher than 100. It was explained to me that this was detention insurance placed so that if the need to pull someone aside at customs arose by an order from above that they would be sure to find something incriminating.

[Wounded Bear]

15. She's already a hostage...

the question is: What are Putin's demands for freeing/repatriating her?