Washington— On Saturday, Russia detained Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner on drug accusations, including a U.S. citizen in the perilous Ukraine conflict.
After detecting vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow,,,
the Russian Federal Customs Service detained the player and posted a video of Griner walking through airport security.
Griner, a seven-time W.N.B.A. All-Star center for the Mercury, was recognized by Tass, claiming a law enforcement source, after the Customs Service did not divulge his name.
Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, confirmed her client's imprisonment in a statement.
She stated, “We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the W.N.B.A. and N.B.A,,,
,,,, As the Biden administration leads dozens of nations in placing crippling sanctions on Russia's economy and political leaders, Griner's incarceration comes at the most dangerous time
U.S.-Russia relations since the Cuban missile crisis. Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the penalties “akin to a declaration of war” on his country.
On Saturday, the State Department issued an updated advisory urging U.S. citizens to leave Russia immediately ,,,
citing the invasion in Ukraine, the “potential for harassment against U.S.
citizens by Russian government security officials” and the limited ability of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to assist American citizens.