Baylor Ex and WNBA Star Britney Griner Has Russian Detention Sentence Extended

Brittney Griner's sentence in Russia has been extended yet again

Former Baylor Bears and current WNBA superstar Brittney Griner has been detained by the Russian government since February 17, since she was allegedly found to be in possession of illegal cannabis oil cartridges and arrested at a Moscow airport. 

And on Tuesday, things got even worse for Griner, with the Russians extending her detention, per a report from Russian state media agency TASS.

According to an interview with ESPN, U.S. Air Force Academy assistant professor of military and strategic studies, Danielle Gilbert, the legitimacy of the arrest should be questioned. 

"Hostage diplomacy cases rely on the pretense of law. The Russians won't ever say 'we're holding Brittney Griner hostage,' but by repeatedly postponing her trial, they're communicating their intentions," Gilbert said, per ESPN. "Dragging out her detention, missing court deadlines -- these are key indicators that we should question the legitimacy of her arrest, precisely why the U.S. classified it as a wrongful detention."

There are obviously complications here. For instance: Should the United States government play politics in return with a “prisoner” exchange involving the release of the so-called “Merchant of Death”?

The timing was horrid, as since that time Russia has invaded Ukraine, the U.S. has labeled Griner as “wrongfully detained,” her detention has been officially extended, and Russian state media has reported that the asking price for Griner’s return would be detained Russian criminal, Viktor Bout.

Bout is an arms trafficker, referred to ominously as the “Merchant of Death, so infamous that he is the subject of the Nicolas Cage film "Lord of War."

In November 2007, Bout was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. prison, where he remains today. Yahoo reports that “Bout has been at the top of the Kremlin’s prisoner exchange wish list. Russia has repeatedly signaled its willingness to do a potential swap for jailed Americans, but so far the U.S. has been unwilling to part with Bout.”

‌A U.S. State Department spokesperson tells Fox News Digital that President Biden has been clear about the importance of bringing U.S. nationals who are detained overseas home. 

Cherelle Griner, Brittney's spouse, expressed impatience in that regard.

"There is one person that can go get her, and that's our president," Griner told ESPN. "He has that power. You know, I'm just like, 'Why are we not using it? Like, urgently, use it.' We're expecting him to use his power to get it done."

Others argue that the issue is more complex than that.

Either way, Griner currently remains in the possession of the Russians, in what seems to be ever-increasingly questionable negotiation tactics for a political struggle. 

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You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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