An embassy official was allowed into Grenier on Tuesday, according to Price, the first official government access to Grenier since Russia has held her since mid-February.
“We have been able to verify her case, and we will continue to work closely with her legal team, with her broader network, to ensure she is treated fairly,” Price told CNN’s Bobby Harlow.
“Our official has found Britney Grenier in good condition and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that she is treated fairly throughout this ordeal.”
Grenier, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a player on the WBNA’s Phoenix Mercury team, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian authorities of smuggling large quantities of a narcotic substance. An offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Earlier this week, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan met with the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday and “demanded that the Russian government follow international law and basic human morality to allow consular access to all US citizens detained in Russia, including those who are formerly in custody.” “.
The Russian state agency TASS reported that the US consul did not visit Grenier, despite the readiness of the Russian authorities to “create all conditions” for the visit.
But the US embassy in Moscow said it had “repeatedly requested” permission to the consulate to visit Greiner and other detained US citizens, “and has been consistently and inappropriately denied access for several months.” US citizens Paul Whelan and Trevor Reid are also in custody in Russia.