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A former Pentagon official fears Russia might use detained WNBA star Brittney Griner as a hostage with tensions constructing between Russia and the US through the invasion of Ukraine.
Griner was detained by Russian authorities for allegedly having hashish oil in her baggage. She may very well be jailed for as much as 10 years and her present location is unknown.
Russian state TV has launched a photograph of Griner, who performs in Russia through the WNBA offseason, following her February arrest. The state of affairs follows the US inserting sanctions on Russia after Vladamir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine final month.
Evelyn Farkas, who served because the US deputy assistant secretary of protection for Russia and Ukraine from 2012 to 2015, informed Yahoo Sports activities that Russia may use Griner’s detainment towards the US.
“If we wish her out of jail, Russia goes to have some phrases,” Farkas stated. “It may very well be a prisoner swap. In addition they may use it as an implicit menace or blackmail to get us to do one thing or not do one thing. Both means, they discover it helpful.”
Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Griner’s hometown of Houston in Congress, has additionally spoken out on the state of affairs.
“We all know that there have been some points coping with vape cartridges and different objects however let me be very clear,” Jackson Lee stated. “Brittney Griner is a United States citizen, she was a visitor in Russia … and I shall be demanding her launch.”
“I don’t wish to disregard a sovereign nation however Putin has disregarded sovereign nations his complete service on this world. Anybody that’s killing and attacking and destroying Ukraine, a neighboring nation that isn’t bothering them, has no proper to carry Ms Griner. Interval.”
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