WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has traveled to Russia to free Britney Greiner, 31, from custody in Russia. It is reported that he will visit, but the US government is said to be skeptical. 22, a source familiar with the matter said.
Greiner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), was sentenced earlier this month to nine years in prison by a Russian court for possession of banned substances. handed over.
U.S. President Biden said the verdict against Greiner was “unacceptable.” In exchange for his release, the government is offering Russia the release of former Russian soldier Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.
Rodman told NBC News on Wednesday that he plans to travel to Russia to seek the release of Greiner. “I got permission to go to Russia to help her,” he said. She did not say where she got the permission from.
A senior Biden administration official said Rodman’s move was not condoned by the government. “The administration has publicly made serious proposals to Russia, and negotiations outside of established channels are likely to complicate and hinder efforts to release him,” he said.
The official also said the State Department had issued an advisory to citizens not to travel to Russia.
