July 22, 2022 2:50 a.m.

On Thursday, Senator Ron Wyden and a group of colleagues introduced a Senate resolution calling on the Russian government to immediately release U.S. citizen Brittney Griner from detention, and urging the U.S. government to press for the WNBA player’s release.

In addition, the resolution also expresses support for U.S. citizen Paul Whelan and all prisoners the group believes are “unjustly imprisoned” in the Russian Federation.

Wyden said, “The Russian government’s cruel treatment of Brittney Griner demands a full-court press spotlighting her wrongful detention since February and the unjust imprisonment of all U.S. citizens in Russia”. Wyden said, “The fact that this resolution has secured support from senators in both parties shows clearly the urgency of Ms. Griner’s immediate release so she can resume thrilling fans on the basketball court, inspiring Americans with her leadership off the court in the fight for LGBTQ rights and or course returning to her friends and family working so hard for her release”.

The release said the Senate resolution is a companion to a similar resolution already passed by the House.

The senate resolution is linked: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/MCL22164%20(Griner%20Resolution%20Final).pdf