Brittney Griner: Detained basketball star tells Joe Biden she's 'terrified'

Basketball star Brittney Griner has written to United States President Joe Biden and urged him to secure her release from prison in Russia.

The 31-year-old was arrested in February at the Sheremetyevo Alexander S Pushkin International Airport.

She was detained after vape cartridges containing hashish oil were allegedly found in her bag.

Griner’s trial began last week and there are concerns she could ​​face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for the charges levelled against her.

In a direct appeal to Biden, delivered to the White House on Independence Day, Griner revealed she was “terrified I might be here forever”.

“I realise you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other detainees,” she said. “Please do all you can to bring us home.”

Another excerpt read: “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.

“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”

Brittney Griner sent a letter to the White House on Monday appealing directly to President Biden for help obtaining her freedom. She has been detained by Russian authorities for 137 days. pic.twitter.com/SvEIEvhQ05

The White House reiterated on Monday that “the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner”, and pledged it was working “aggressively” to bring her back to the US.

“President Biden has been clear about the need to see all US nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.

“