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On the one-year anniversary of her release from a Russian jail, basketball star Brittney Griner is using her platform to shed light on the plight of Americans wrongly detained abroad. 

Griner, who spent 11 months in a Russian prison, expressed gratitude for the public's support in securing her release. And also passionately called for increased efforts to bring home others facing similar unjust incarcerations.

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Advocate for the Wrongly detained 

In a heartfelt holiday card statement, Griner and her wife Cherelle urged the public to remember those like Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, who continue to languish in Russian prisons under dubious circumstances.

 Griner's case, involving her arrest for carrying a vape cartridge with less than a gram of hashish, serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by Americans detained abroad. Despite her conviction on drug smuggling charges, her release was orchestrated through a controversial exchange involving convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Imprisoned abroad

The ongoing incarceration of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich underscores the complexity of securing the release of Americans detained in foreign countries. 

Whelan, arrested in 2018 on charges of spying, and Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in March on espionage charges, remain in Russian custody despite persistent efforts by the U.S. government.

National security spokesperson John Kirby revealed that a U.S. proposal to secure the release of Whelan and Gershkovich was met with resistance from the Russian government. Despite this setback, the U.S. administration is committed to exploring all avenues to bring these Americans home.

Paul Whelan, frustrated by the diplomatic intricacies, expressed his disappointment with the Biden administration for failing to secure his release alongside Griner in 2022.

 In a statement delivered through his family, Whelan emphasized the urgency of decisive action, stating, "A promise is a promise. The clock is ticking on getting this done. Please bring me home."

Hostage Affairs Office

In response to the growing challenges faced by Americans detained abroad, Congress passed legislation in 2020 establishing the Special Representative for Hostage Affairs. This office concentrates government efforts to advocate for and secure the release of Americans unjustly imprisoned or taken hostage in foreign lands. 

Determinations of wrongful detention, as seen in the cases of Whelan and Gershkovich, are crucial aspects of this legislation.

While the exact number of Americans unjustly detained overseas remains unclear, a September report by the James P. Foley Foundation revealed that 79 percent of U.S. nationals detained in 2022 were in China, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. 

The Biden administration's success in securing the release of five Americans wrongfully detained in Iran and acknowledging the wrongful detention of at least three U.S. citizens in Venezuela signals progress. 

Remembering the wrongly detained at Christmas

Efforts are underway to free more than 130 hostages, some of them U.S. citizens, who are being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

As the holiday season approaches, Brittney Griner's advocacy serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and the release of Americans wrongly detained abroad is far from over. The complexities involved demand continued diplomatic efforts, public awareness, and a collective call to action to ensure that no American spends the holidays behind bars unjustly.

Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner concluded their Christmas card with, "As you gather with loved ones and take part in your family's traditions, please tell them how much you love them and also please take a moment to think about and share a story, send a letter or call a representative about one of the many Americans being held away from their families this holiday season. Wishing you and your family a joyous holiday together."