Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty (2)Now thatBrittney Grineris free from Russian custody,the WNBA star and her wifeintend to help other families of political prisoners.Griner, 32, returned to the United States on Friday morning, where she reunited with her wife, Cherelle Griner.According to anESPN interview with her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Brittney and Cherelle plan to “raise attention” for other families with loved ones detained abroad.In particular, the couple hopes to help American Paul Whelan, the former U.S. marine who has been imprisoned in Russia for four years on espionage charges, and was initially said to be part of the deal to bring Brittney home.WhenCherellespoke from the White House Thursday following the announcement of Brittney’s return, she said, “Today my family is whole, but as you are all aware, there are so many families who are not whole.“She added that she will continue advocating for “getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.“Ethan Miller/Getty"Let’s continue to use our hands, voices, platforms, and resources to bring Paul and all Americans home,” Cherelle also saidin her first Instagram post since Brittney’s return. “All families deserve to be whole!“In astatement on Griner’s release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched on the challenges facing the U.S. in its ongoing negotiations concerning Whelan.“While we celebrate Brittney’s release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly,” Blinken said in the statement. “Despite our ceaseless efforts, the Russian Government has not yet been willing to bring a long overdue end to his wrongful detention.“Blinken continued: “I wholeheartedly wish we could have brought Paul home today on the same plane with Brittney. Nevertheless, we will not relent in our efforts to bring Paul and all other U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad home to their loved ones where they belong.“News ofWhelan’s arrestbroke on New Year’s Eve 2018 when Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB)announcedthat it had detained the Michigan resident during a “spy mission.” However, a U.S. government security source told PEOPLE at the time that Paul is not a secret agent for the United States.From left: David Whelan and Paul Whelan.GMA/Twitter; KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via GettyIn a statement given to media, per CNN, Paul’s brother, David Whelan, said, “I amso glad that Brittney Griner is on her way home. As the family member of a Russian hostage, I can literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays.“He added, “The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.“Still, David expressed in his message that he and his family are upset the same couldn’t happen for Paul, especially after the Biden administration brought up the possibility that he would come home back in July.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice,” David said. “His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the U.S. government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.”
Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty (2)
Now thatBrittney Grineris free from Russian custody,the WNBA star and her wifeintend to help other families of political prisoners.Griner, 32, returned to the United States on Friday morning, where she reunited with her wife, Cherelle Griner.According to anESPN interview with her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Brittney and Cherelle plan to “raise attention” for other families with loved ones detained abroad.In particular, the couple hopes to help American Paul Whelan, the former U.S. marine who has been imprisoned in Russia for four years on espionage charges, and was initially said to be part of the deal to bring Brittney home.WhenCherellespoke from the White House Thursday following the announcement of Brittney’s return, she said, “Today my family is whole, but as you are all aware, there are so many families who are not whole.“She added that she will continue advocating for “getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.“Ethan Miller/Getty"Let’s continue to use our hands, voices, platforms, and resources to bring Paul and all Americans home,” Cherelle also saidin her first Instagram post since Brittney’s return. “All families deserve to be whole!“In astatement on Griner’s release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched on the challenges facing the U.S. in its ongoing negotiations concerning Whelan.“While we celebrate Brittney’s release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly,” Blinken said in the statement. “Despite our ceaseless efforts, the Russian Government has not yet been willing to bring a long overdue end to his wrongful detention.“Blinken continued: “I wholeheartedly wish we could have brought Paul home today on the same plane with Brittney. Nevertheless, we will not relent in our efforts to bring Paul and all other U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad home to their loved ones where they belong.“News ofWhelan’s arrestbroke on New Year’s Eve 2018 when Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB)announcedthat it had detained the Michigan resident during a “spy mission.” However, a U.S. government security source told PEOPLE at the time that Paul is not a secret agent for the United States.From left: David Whelan and Paul Whelan.GMA/Twitter; KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via GettyIn a statement given to media, per CNN, Paul’s brother, David Whelan, said, “I amso glad that Brittney Griner is on her way home. As the family member of a Russian hostage, I can literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays.“He added, “The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.“Still, David expressed in his message that he and his family are upset the same couldn’t happen for Paul, especially after the Biden administration brought up the possibility that he would come home back in July.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice,” David said. “His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the U.S. government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.”
Now thatBrittney Grineris free from Russian custody,the WNBA star and her wifeintend to help other families of political prisoners.
Griner, 32, returned to the United States on Friday morning, where she reunited with her wife, Cherelle Griner.
According to anESPN interview with her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Brittney and Cherelle plan to “raise attention” for other families with loved ones detained abroad.
In particular, the couple hopes to help American Paul Whelan, the former U.S. marine who has been imprisoned in Russia for four years on espionage charges, and was initially said to be part of the deal to bring Brittney home.
WhenCherellespoke from the White House Thursday following the announcement of Brittney’s return, she said, “Today my family is whole, but as you are all aware, there are so many families who are not whole.”
She added that she will continue advocating for “getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.”
Ethan Miller/Getty
“Let’s continue to use our hands, voices, platforms, and resources to bring Paul and all Americans home,” Cherelle also saidin her first Instagram post since Brittney’s return. “All families deserve to be whole!”
In astatement on Griner’s release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched on the challenges facing the U.S. in its ongoing negotiations concerning Whelan.
“While we celebrate Brittney’s release, Paul Whelan and his family continue to suffer needlessly,” Blinken said in the statement. “Despite our ceaseless efforts, the Russian Government has not yet been willing to bring a long overdue end to his wrongful detention.”
Blinken continued: “I wholeheartedly wish we could have brought Paul home today on the same plane with Brittney. Nevertheless, we will not relent in our efforts to bring Paul and all other U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad home to their loved ones where they belong.”
News ofWhelan’s arrestbroke on New Year’s Eve 2018 when Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB)announcedthat it had detained the Michigan resident during a “spy mission.” However, a U.S. government security source told PEOPLE at the time that Paul is not a secret agent for the United States.
From left: David Whelan and Paul Whelan.GMA/Twitter; KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty
In a statement given to media, per CNN, Paul’s brother, David Whelan, said, “I amso glad that Brittney Griner is on her way home. As the family member of a Russian hostage, I can literally only imagine the joy she will have, being reunited with her loved ones, and in time for the holidays.”
He added, “The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.”
Still, David expressed in his message that he and his family are upset the same couldn’t happen for Paul, especially after the Biden administration brought up the possibility that he would come home back in July.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice,” David said. “His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the U.S. government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.”
source: people.com
