Twitter is outraged following news that Brittney Griner’s pretrial detention in Russia has been extended, again, ABC News reports. The WNBA star, who was detained back in February, is expected to stay in custody through July 2. Griner’s detention was extended at “the request of the investigation,” to a Khimki Court of the Moscow Region representative said, according to TASS.
People took to Twitter to demand action and justice for the basketball star.
“I don’t know much about politics but I’m genuinely curious if there is NOTHING @POTUS can do to get #BrittneyGriner out of Russia. She is literally locked up over a vape pen that was for personal use. In what nation is it ever that serious???” one user wrote.
“Ok!! This is BullS**t!!! Why won’t they let her come home? Something ain’t right!! If it was anyone else the government would be fighting to get her back. We see y’all!! It’s not right!! Do something government!! #BrittneyGriner needs to be home with her family!!” another added.
“The arbitrary nature of Russian “courts” should not be a surprise to anyone. This extension doesn’t mean much for #BrittneyGriner’s ‘case’ because wrongful detentions are resolved politically, not judicially,” someone wrote.
Griner was in Russia playing basketball for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA’s offseason when she was arrested at the Sheremetyevo International Airport. She was taken into custody for allegedly having vape cartridges in her luggage that contained hash oil, which is illegal in Russia.
The center was charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs,” according to The New York Times, and she could face up to 10 years in prison. The U.S. government later deemed Griner “wrongfully detained,” according to ABC News.
