Karine Jean-Pierre says staff at the US Embassy in Moscow were FINALLY able to visit Britney Griner in police custody and that she’s “doing as well as you’d expect” without new negotiations with Russia
- White House says government has offered ‘alternative’ means to free Griner
- Comes after a Russian judge rejected his appeal of a 9-year sentence
- The Biden administration has offered to release her but says it has received no response
- There have been media reports of the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout
- Biden said he could meet Putin at the G20 to discuss Griner, but then said the meeting would not take place
- The State Department has renewed calls for the release of Griner and American Paul Whelan
US diplomats were finally able to visit WNBA star Brittney Griner after a Russian judge upheld her 9-year prison sentence last month.
The State Department confirmed that officials from the US Embassy in Moscow were able to visit the basketball star, whose wife and family have pleaded with officials to try to obtain his release.
“We are told that she is doing as well as expected under the circumstances,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
State Department spokesman Ned Price announced the visit on his Twitter Account.
“They saw firsthand his tenacity and perseverance despite his current situation. We continue to push for the immediate release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan and fair treatment for every American detained,” he said, referring to the former Moscow Marine accused by Moscow of espionage. Whelan’s family denies the charge.
“We are told that she is doing as well as expected under the circumstances,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after US Embassy officials were able to visit. to WNBA star Brittney Griner.
In July, the administration offered to trade convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner, 32, and Whelan, CNN reported at the time.
The administration declined to confirm details of any offers, but blamed Russia for not responding.
“As we have said before, the US government has made an important offer to the Russians to resolve the unacceptable and unjustified detentions of US citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan,” Jean-Pierre said.
She then provided an update on the negotiations indicating that the United States had shown progress.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the government had offered “alternative” ways to potentially release Griner, despite Moscow’s failure to respond to the latest US offer.
The State Department tweeted about the visit
The arrest came as Russian President Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s war on Ukraine
“I can also tell you that in the weeks that followed, despite the lack of good faith negotiation on the part of the Russians, the U.S. government continued to follow up on that offer and come up with other potential means of “moving forward with the Russians through all available channels. That continues to be a top priority,” she said.
Griner was arrested in February after police said they found vaping cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport.
Griner admitted to having the canisters, but said she accidentally included them when packing her luggage. She was coming back to play for a Russian team. The arrest came during a time of high tension between the United States and Russia, the same month Russia invaded Ukraine.
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