US says basketball star 'wrongfully detained' in Russia / Photo: Christian Petersen - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
-
Newark Welfare Deficit Exceeds £140m Annually, Report Finds
-
Basil Tuma Scores First Senior Goal as Malta Draws with Ten-Man Eswatini
-
PUK Leader Declares Largest Political Crisis in Kurdistan Region History
-
Korea Reviews GLP-1 Vision Loss Warnings Following US FDA Action
-
Below Deck alumnus João Franco and brother arrested after fatal Turkey fight
-
Ole Miss inquiry expands after video and monkey-noise allegations
-
Thousands of Urban Homes Left Without High-Speed Internet Due to Broadband Blackspots
-
General Hospital actor Randall England dies at 75
-
Bunnie XO artwork taken down from Jelly Roll’s Nashville bar
-
Boris Herrmann Claims Second Place in IMOCA Class at Route du Rhum
-
London museum removes Russell Brand hair exhibit after rape conviction
-
Arlington sentinel rebukes Pete Hegseth entourage for laughter near memorial
-
Yella Beezy sentenced to life for arranging rapper Mo3’s murder
-
Kylie Jenner employee describes closet ordeal and pepper-spray incident
-
Raz B's Son Died of Asphyxia Due to Airway Obstruction
-
Synchron Halts Clinical Trials of Second-Generation Brain Implant Due to Performance Issues
-
Authorities to identify Montauk Mary and five other Long Island cold-case victims
-
Davante Adams injury deepens Los Angeles Rams receiver shortage
-
Barbie sequel negotiations stall over reported $25 million pay packages
-
João Franco’s earlier post draws attention after arrest over fatal Turkey brawl
-
Bath & Body Works launches buy-one-get-one-free candle offer
-
Itlu Arjuna receives U/A certificate ahead of theatrical release
-
Angola Marks 51 Years of Independence and 50 Years of Diplomatic Ties with Egypt
-
Dhananjaya de Silva guides Sri Lanka to 221-4 against Pakistan
-
Niraj Kumar earns Los Angeles Olympic quota with 50m rifle bronze
-
Delhi gold loses Rs 800 while silver falls Rs 5,000
-
India extends micro-credit guarantee plan for five years
-
Pradeep Antony, Smeha Manimegalai portray secret spouses in Mr & Mrs Office
-
Zelenskyy arrives in Dublin for meetings on Ukraine and peace efforts
-
Woman barred from every Greggs outlet after series of offences
-
Jury hears social-media image helped identify teen in Scarlett Faulkner case
US says basketball star 'wrongfully detained' in Russia
The United States said Tuesday that Russia has unjustly detained basketball star Brittney Griner, a finding that steps up efforts to free her more than two months after she was seized in Moscow.
"The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained US citizen Brittney Griner," a State Department spokesperson said.
Calling American citizens' safety "among the highest priorities of the US government," the spokesperson said the State Department would "provide appropriate support" to Griner.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow's airport on February 17 on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, illegal in Russia.
Washington had earlier been granted consular access but had stopped short of commenting on the nature of her detention.
The finding comes nearly a week after the United States and Russia exchanged prisoners, a scene reminiscent of the Cold War amid soaring tensions over Moscow's invasion in Ukraine.
Russia in the last exchange freed Trevor Reed, a former US Marine accused of drunkenly fighting with police.
The United States also says that Russia has unjustly detained Paul Whelan, a former security official at a vehicle parts company who was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges.
Griner, 31, is considered among the greatest female basketball players with her skill at "dunking" a ball.
She was playing club basketball in Russia before the resumption of the US season, a common practice for American stars seeking additional income.
O.Salvador--PC