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Trevor Reed urged Biden and Congress to work towards the release of basketball star Brittney Griner from Russian custody.
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Reed, a former Marine recently released from Russia, said a “large portion” of Russians were racist.
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Reed also said the Russian government is “systematically discriminating against” the LGBTQ community.
Basketball star Brittney Griner may be in a “worse position” while in Russian custody because she is black and lesbian, Trevor Reed, a Marine Corps veteran released from Russian custody, said at a meeting in Houston for Griner Tuesday. .
“Brittney, especially in Russia, is probably in a worse position than I am in many ways because Brittney is African American. A large part of the population in Russia is racist,” said Reed.
“They also have a government under Vladimir Putin that systematically discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” Reed continued. “And of course those things will make Brittney’s time there a lot harder than if they’d just taken another American hostage.”
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, entered Russian detention on Feb. 17 after authorities at a Moscow airport said they found hash oil in her luggage. Griner has since been classified as “improperly detained” by the United States Department of State.
Reed was detained in Moscow in 2019 after being convicted of assaulting Russian police. He was released from Russian prison on April 27 as part of a prisoner swap. Reed’s family said he suffered, including suffering a suspected broken rib and contracting COVID-19, while in a Russian prison.
Speaking about Griner in Houston, Reed also called for the release of Paul Whelan, another naval veteran, who was detained by Russians after being charged with espionage. He was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison, but maintains his innocence.
Reed urged attendees to “press” the White House and Congress to release Griner and Whelan “at any cost,” including additional prisoner exchanges.
“There is no justice in Russia. Brittney and Paul will not get justice in Russia,” said Reed. “They won’t get a fair trial. They won’t get a fair investigation. They’ll be there as hostages until the United States releases them.”
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