Brittney Griner’s wife is scared for her safety as she remains jailed in Russia.
The Mercury center’s arrest happened less than a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. She had been playing overseas during the league’s offseason to make money. She’s been playing basketball in Russia for the past seven years.
Griner’s wife, Cherelle, recently spoke up about the situation during an interview with Rev. Al Sharpton on his “Keepin’ It Real” show on SiriusXM.
Cherelle revealed her wife is “terrified” in Russia right now.
“BG is struggling. She’s a human. She’s struggling,” Cherelle said. “She’s there, terrified. She’s there alone. I mean, even in America, if she was going through a legal proceeding, she wouldn’t be doing it alone, you know?”
Cherelle continued: “Everything about this is just your biggest nightmare. On top of the fact that BG is in a situation where this isn’t even a trial. Honestly, considering an execution, Russia has a 99 percent conviction rate. Nothing about this is justice.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral WNBA stories via Google! Follow Us
There were reports that suggested Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, otherwise known as “The Merchant of Death.” Bout is serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization.
The U.S. State Department classified Griner as wrongfully detained in May. She appeared in court earlier this week and her detention was extended for six months. She faces up to 10 years in prison if she’s convicted. Her trial is set to begin on Friday.
