Two weeks after her release from a Russian penal colony, US basketball star Brittney Griner has urged her supporters to write to Paul Whelan, an American still detained in Russia. In a letter posted on Instagram, Griner thanked fans for their notes, saying they 'helped me not to lose hope'.
Griner was detained on drug charges for nearly 10 months before being returned in a prisoner swap, but Mr Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, was left behind. Griner wrote: 'There remain too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained. I hope you will join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued.'
Paul Whelan's brother, David Whelan, told the BBC his family was grateful for Griner's support, adding: 'Someone who has been through what she has doesn't have to be as thoughtful and kind as she has been.'
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA All-Star, was arrested in February last year at a Moscow airport after cannabis oil was found in her luggage. She was convicted of smuggling and possessing narcotics and sentenced to nine years. Her case drew international attention, with figures such as Hillary Clinton and LeBron James calling for her release.
Of her release, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: 'The choice was one or none.' Russia traded Griner for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Griner has said she plans to return to the basketball court next year with the Phoenix Mercury.
