Dennis Rodman intends to travel to Russia to help Brittney Griner, a WNBA star who was just given a nine-year prison sentence for drug related offenses.
The NBA Hall of Famer stated he “got permission” to visit Russia “sometime this week” in an interview with NBC News.
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman told NBC while at an event in Washington D.C. “I’m trying to go this week.”
The Russian Federal Customs Service detained Griner back in March after discovering vape cartridges carrying hashish oil in her luggage at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside of Moscow.
In August, a Russian court found Griner guilty of crimes related to drug possession and smuggling. After that, she received a nine-year prison term. Since then, her defense team has challenged her conviction.
If Dennis Rodman were to travel to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, it wouldn’t be the first time the NBA legend had met with international leaders. Dennis traveled with former President Donald Trump to Singapur in 2018 so they could meet Kim Jong Un of North Korea.
BREAKING: Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years by Russian court.
Daunting but expected sentence. Effectively closes 1st chapter in her detainment and moves her fate to the diplomatic world. Real length of detention will be however long it takes to reach deal between US & Russia.— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) August 4, 2022