The wife of Brittney Griner said the WNBA star is doing her best to “hold on” until she is released from Russian custody.
Griner was arrested on Feb. 17 after police allegedly discovered cannabis vaping cartridges in her possession and could face 10 years in prison if convicted. Her trial is set to begin Friday.
Cherelle Griner told Rev. Al Sharpton on his SiriusXM radio show, Keepin’ It Real, that letters from Brittney Griner show she is struggling “every second that goes by” and is terrified and alone.
“Because I am her person, she is always going to write persuasively to make sure I don’t break because she knows I have all these things going on. She’s always trying to be my strong person,” Cherelle Griner said.
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“She’s telling me she’s OK. She’s, like, ‘I’m OK, babe,'” she said, sharing from Brittney Griner’s letters. “‘I’m hardened. I’m not me right now. When I come home, it’s going to take me a minute to get back to myself, but I’m holding on. I won’t break until I come home. I won’t let them break me. I know they are trying to, but I’m going to do my best to just hold on until I can get home.'”
The State Department has designated Griner, who has played basketball in Russia for years during the WNBA’s off-season, to be “wrongfully detained” by Russia, which means her case is handled specifically by the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
Fewer than 1% of all defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, according to the Associated Press.
“Everything about this is just her biggest nightmare, on top of the fact that BG is in a situation where this isn’t even a trial,” Cherelle Griner said, referencing concerns that Brittney Griner will not receive a fair hearing. “Nothing about this is justice.”
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“Brittney matters,” Cherelle Griner said. “We’re never going to shut up about this until she’s back.”
