And heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over the latter’s invasion of Ukraine means a solution may be elusive. Griner’s wife, Cherell, wrote on Instagram on Monday: “People say ‘Stay busy.’ However, there is no task in this world that can prevent any of us from wondering if you are safe.
“My heart, our hearts every day miss the beats that pass, but you do not hear. I miss your voice. I miss your presence. You are our man! There are no words to express this pain. It hurts me, it hurts us. We waiting for the day to love you all family,” she wrote.
Over the weekend, she thanked supporters and asked for privacy “as we continue to work to ensure that my wife returns home safely.”
A customs official told state media that Griner was stopped in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport upon her arrival from New York, though no exact date was given.
While searching her luggage, authorities found cannabis oil and detained Griner, said Irina Begisheva of the Federal Customs Service’s Main Directorate for Combating Smuggling.
“A criminal case has been initiated against a US citizen under Part 2 of Art. 229 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for the smuggling of narcotic drugs on a large scale, ”she said on the air of the country’s main state news channel, Russia 24.
Griner’s whereabouts are not publicly known. CNN reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment, but received no response.
Debbie Jackson, Griner’s former high school coach, told CNN, “You always hope for the best,” and described Griner during their time together as disciplined and unassuming.
“You always had real determination and perseverance to get to the finish line. And know that you will make it to the finish line,” she said of Griner.
Griner, like many other WNBA players, plays overseas during the off-season, where salaries can be much higher. Last year, she won the Euroleague Championship among women as part of the Russian club UMMC Yekaterinburg, where she has been performing since 2015 in the off-season.
Griner spent her entire WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury and won the league championship in 2014. The WNBA has confirmed that all other league players have left Russia and Ukraine.
The league, along with USA Basketball, the Mercury, and the WNBA players’ union, have publicly shared their concerns about Griner.
Lindsey Kagawa Kolas, Griner’s agent, said in a statement: “We are aware of the Britney Griner situation in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representative in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA.
“Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment on the details of her case, but we can confirm that while we work to bring her home, her mental and physical health remains our top concern.”
Fans are showing their support for Griner, with over 26,000 people signing the “Safe and Safe Return of Britney Griner to the USA” petition on Change.org as of Monday evening.
The deputy believes that it is difficult to take Griner out of Russia
Jackson told CNN affiliate KPRC that she feared Russia could use Griner for political purposes.
“Their justice system is nothing like the American one, anything can happen and that’s why you just race,” Jackson told KPRC.
“I’m just praying for Britney to be strong and hopefully she knows that there are a lot of people here who are reaching out for her,” she said.
A member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee said it would be “very difficult” to get Griner out of Russia.
“Our diplomatic relationship with Russia does not exist at the moment,” Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of California told CNN on Monday.
“Perhaps, during the various negotiations that may take place, it can become one of the solutions. I do not know”.
He also noted that “Russia has very, very strict rules and laws for LGBT people,” though it’s not clear if those rules and laws could affect Griner’s case.
But the Biden administration is working to get Griner out of Russia, members of the black caucus in Congress said after meeting with President Joe Biden on Monday.
“The best news we got today was that they are aware of this and that it is on the agenda,” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Griner’s hometown of Houston, Texas, told reporters.
Noting a potential 10-year sentence for Greener, Jackson Lee added, “We know about Britney Greener and we know we have to move on with her situation.”
CNN’s Lucy Kafanov, Wayne Sterling, Holly Yang, Emma Tucker, Rosa Flores, Lisa France, Elizabeth Joseph, Chris Boyett, Valerie Egorov, and Chenel Woody contributed to this report.