Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the conviction and sentencing of U.S. citizen Brittney Griner to nine years in Russian prison: 

“The Russian government's conviction and nine-year prison sentencing of Brittney Griner does nothing to change the fact that both Brittney and Paul Whelan remain wrongfully detained, victims of the Kremlin’s practice of using the unjust detention of American citizens for political ends. 

“We must continue to do everything we can to ensure that Brittney, Paul, and all other wrongfully detained Americans are brought home safely and reunited with their families. Congress, and the entire United States Government, remain united in that goal.”

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