Dennis Rodman plans to travel to Russia to try to get Brittney Griner released.
According to NBC News, the former NBA player said he was granted permission to travel and that he hopes to fly out in a matter of days.
He said, “I’m trying this week to go.”
Rodman’s plan is despite US State Department strongly dissuading Americans from entering Russia. Relations between the two countries are at a post-Cold War low after the invasion of Ukraine.
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Since her arrest at a Moscow airport in February 17th, the US government has not been able to get Griner released.
Griner was a player for Russian side Yekaterinburg in the WNBA offseason. Her luggage contained cannabis-infused vape cartridges.
Russia is against cannabis oil, and Griner was convicted of drug possession and trafficking.
After pleading guilty to the charges , she was sentenced to nine-years in prison.
Read More: Brittney Griner is a Brittney Griner.
Joe Biden’s administration claims Griner has been “wrongfully detained”. However, there have been few signs of negotiations with Moscow during the high tensions throughout most of the year.
Since the Ukraine war began the US has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin responded by banning high-ranking White House officials – which includes the president from entering the country.
It is not known if Rodman, 61 has attempted to meet Vladimir Putin . He described Putin as “cool” after a 2014 visit to Moscow.
Rodman might hope that his past experience with isolated leaders hostile to Washington will be in his favor. He already enjoyed the company North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Rodman described Pyongyang’s leader in 2017 ahead of his visit there.
He said, “I believe that he respects my views as far as understanding them,”
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