Brittney Griner Spends 32nd Birthday in Russian Jail Cell
(CNN) — Eight months on from her detainment in Moscow, Brittney Griner is celebrating her 32nd birthday in a Russian jail instead of with her family.The American basketball star released a message on Tuesday, saying she had been buoyed by the support she has received, according to a statement shared by Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin, and Partners law firm."Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home.
All the support and love are definitely helping me," Griner said in her message, according to the statement.Griner's attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, spent a few hours with Griner on Tuesday and relayed numerous birthday wishes to her, the statement said.The basketball player's wife Cherelle Griner and others close to the basketball player have launched the #WeAreBG campaign to put pressure on the US government and other parties to bring her home.In a video released as part of the campaign Cherelle said, "I've felt every moment of the grueling seven months without her."She thanked those who have supported the cause as well as specifically mentioning Joe Biden saying, "I want to thank President Biden for the Administration's efforts to secure her release."Griner was detained in February when entering Russia for possession of cannabis oil.
The center pleaded guilty to drug charges, saying that she accidentally packed vape cartridges containing cannabis oil when in a hurry.In August, the eight-time WNBA All-Star was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.
