SPEHA directs and coordinates the government’s diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, and relocating to their office means more flexibility in negotiating her freedom, as they do not have to wait for a Russian trial. production to play.
Carstens and his team played an important role in securing the release of US citizen and Marine veteran Trevor Reed of Russia last week.
“When it comes to our efforts to free the Americans, the President’s Special Envoy for Hostages, Ambassador Carstens, he will go anywhere, he will talk to anyone if it means we can return home with an American to unite. again this American. with her or his family, “State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the decision to classify Greener as illegally detained was made “in coordination with the hostage negotiator [Carstens] and the State Department. “
“But I don’t usually believe that this will change to leave room for the result we all want and want, namely to bring it back and all Americans detained or unjustifiably detained, we don’t usually do that. I’m not talking about it widely, “she said.
Greener’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Kolas, said in a statement: “Britney has been detained for 75 days and we expect the White House to do everything necessary to bring her home.”
In addition to the work of the Biden administration, the Richardson Center, which privately advocates on behalf of the families of hostages and detainees and is involved in bringing Reid home, is also working on behalf of the Grinner family to try to secure her release.
“I can confirm that Governor Richardson and the Richardson Center are indeed working on behalf of Britney’s family to ensure her safe return. Due to the ongoing efforts and sensitivity, we are focused on the work, not on the conversations at the moment “, Mickey Bergman, Deputy. president and CEO of the Richardson Center, said in a statement to CNN.
Greener, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury star of the WNBA, was arrested at Moscow’s airport in February and charged by Russian authorities with smuggling significant amounts of the drug, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
She played for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg power plant during the WNBA off-season.
On Tuesday, the WNBA said it would honor Greenner, a seven-time star, in the 2022 season with her initials and T-shirt number (42) along all 12 home courts.
“As we begin the 2022 season, we keep Britney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and the community,” WNBA Commissioner Katie Engelbert said in a statement.
“We continue to work to bring Britney back home and we are grateful for the support the community has given to BG and her family during this extremely challenging time.”
Greenner will also receive his full salary in the WNBA, the league announced.
Last season, Greener finished second in the Most Valuable Player Award. The 6’9 “center led Mercury to the WNBA Finals, where Phoenix lost to Chicago Sky in four games.
The WNBA season begins on Friday and Phoenix begins its season at home against Las Vegas Aces.
Russian authorities did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on the State Department’s new classification of the Greener case.
CNN’s Donald Judd contributed to this report.
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