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Colin Allred: US representative said Britney Greiner’s case was “extremely concerning” and that her access to the consulate had been denied

Colin Allred: US representative said Britney Greiner's case was "extremely concerning" and that her access to the consulate had been denied
Russian authorities Greiner was arrested last monthsaying she had cannabis oil in her bag and accused her of smuggling large quantities of a narcotic – an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Speaking to CNN’s Don Lemon, the Texas congressman said the US embassy had requested consulate access to it but had been denied access for three weeks.

Allred acknowledged that a Russian invasion of Ukraine loomed “over the issue” of Grenier’s return to the United States.

“For Britney’s sake, we don’t want her to become a part of this kind of political battle going on, we want to make sure that her rights are respected and that we are able to access her, and that one can get through the process and go home as quickly as possible,” Allred told CNN on Thursday. .

Allred said Griner has been in contact with her Russian lawyer, who has been in contact with her agent and family back home.

“We know she’s fine,” Allred said, adding that he had also been in contact with the player’s agent.

CNN has reached out to Russian officials, the US embassy in Moscow, and the US State Department for comment on the access to the Griner consulate but has not heard back.

“They should just know that our government, the State Department, and people like me in Congress on the Foreign Affairs Committee, will do everything we can to get her home, to bring home any other unjustly detained American.” Allred said, speaking of the families of Americans in state custody.

Britney Greiner poses for pictures with her gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Griner’s whereabouts are unknown to the public. CNN has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment but has not heard back.

Member of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives He said this week It would be “extremely difficult” to get Grenier out of Russia, as things stand.

“Our diplomatic relations with Russia do not exist at the moment,” Democratic Representative John Garamendi of California told CNN on Monday.

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“Maybe during the various negotiations that might take place, you might be able to be one of the solutions. I don’t know.”

He also noted that “Russia has some very strict rules and laws about LGBT people” – although it’s not clear if these rules and laws might affect Grenier’s case.

Russia has passed LGBT legislation and banned “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations around minors”.

at Instagram Subsequently, Greiner’s wife described the agony of waiting.

“People say ‘stay busy.’ However, there is no mission in this world that can stop any of us from worrying about you. My heart and ours all take a beating every passing day,” Cherelle Griner posted on Monday.

“There are no words to express this pain. I am in pain, we are in pain.”

Over the weekend, she thanked supporters and demanded privacy “while we continue to work to get my wife home safely.”

CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Lucy Kavanov, Wayne Sterling, Rosa Flores, Lisa France, Chris Boyett and Shenelle Woody contributed to this report.