Britney Griner asks fans to ‘advocate for’ wrongfully detained American prisoner Paul Whelan

Britney Griner has called on her supporters to “speak up for” other wrongfully detained Americans, like Paul Whelan, after his release from a Russian penal colony.

Griner, who was released on December 9, was jailed for nearly 10 months after being detained at Moscow airport and charged with having in her possession vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.

And while she was eventually freed in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, she is now targeting others like Whelan, who remain wrongfully detained.

She smiled on the return flight as she made her way to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

‘Your letters were also bigger than cheering me up. They showed me the power of collective hands. Together we can do difficult things,’ she said in the letter, which was sent to instagram.

I am living proof of that. My family is all and now, thanks to you, we are lucky to be able to spend the holidays together. Yet too many families remain with loved ones wrongfully detained.

‘Those families stood with you and everyone who supported the #WeAreBG campaign to bring me home, and it’s our turn to support them.

“I hope you will join me in writing to Paul Whelan and continuing to advocate for other Americans to be rescued and returned to their families.”

Whelan, a former US Marine, was arrested by Russian authorities on December 28, 2018 and charged with espionage.

Paul Whelan has spent nearly four years behind bars in Russia after what he called a “bogus trial.”

He was convicted of his alleged crimes in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security prison.

After thanking the fans from “the bottom of my heart”, Griner signed off and included Whelan’s mailing address.

While President Biden was criticized in some circles for having to leave Whelan behind while Griner was released, the 52-year-old’s own family supported the president’s decision.

Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, told the Associated Press that the Biden administration “made the right decision” in agreeing to the Griner-for-prisoner swap.

“Unfortunately, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s,” Biden said. And while we still haven’t managed to secure Paul’s release, we’re not giving up. We never give up.’

Griner was first brought to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, rather than her home in Phoenix, upon arrival in the United States.

The site regularly treats people who have experienced trauma like Griner’s.

The WNBA star previously said on social media that she intended to return to the court and play for the Phoenix Mercury this season.

and according to ESPNdid some light basketball practice earlier this month.