State Department makes clear stance on Dennis Rodman’s Russia travel

NBA legend Dennis Rodman made waves over the weekend when he revealed his plans to go to Russia to advocate for the discharge of WNBA celebrity Brittney Griner who was sentenced to 9 years in jail after she was convicted of drug fees.

Rodman advised NBC Information over the weekend he “received permission” to journey to Russia to “assist that woman.” He didn’t elaborate on who gave him the inexperienced gentle to travel to Russia.

On Monday, State Division spokesman Ned Value was requested about Rodman’s journey plans.

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Dennis Rodman reacts after being launched as a part of the NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Workforce throughout the 2022 NBA All-Star Recreation at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 20, 2022.
(Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photos)

“Nicely, we now have seen by the media, and actually solely by the media, that Dennis Rodman has mentioned he does intend to journey to Russia. He — I need to be clear, he’s — he wouldn’t be touring on behalf of the U.S. authorities,” Value mentioned.

“I’ve simply reiterated what we’ve mentioned now for the previous a number of weeks. We put ahead a considerable proposal to Russia to hunt the liberty of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner. We consider that something aside from negotiating additional by the established channel is prone to complicate and hinder these launch efforts. We’ve additionally offered very clear steering to Americans owing to numerous threats, not the least of which is the specter of wrongful detention, that People mustn’t journey to Russia. That has been our message to personal People throughout the board.”

The State Division has a Degree 4 journey advisory to warn People about touring to Russia.

BRITTNEY GRINER APPEALS 9-YEAR SENTENCE IN RUSSIA DRUG CASE: REPORT

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a courtroom after a listening to in Khimki, close to Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 4, 2022.
(AP Photograph/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

“Don’t journey to Russia as a result of unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian army forces, the potential for harassment towards U.S. residents by Russian authorities safety officers, the singling out of U.S. residents in Russia by Russian authorities safety officers together with for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of native regulation, restricted flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s restricted capability to help U.S. residents in Russia, COVID-19-related restrictions, and terrorism,” the warning reads. “U.S. residents residing or touring in Russia ought to depart Russia instantly. Train elevated warning because of wrongful detentions.”

Value mentioned final week the company nonetheless categorized Griner as being “wrongfully detained.” He was requested about Griner and the potential of a prisoner swap with Russia, which can contain convicted arms seller Viktor Bout and one other American held in Russia, Paul Whelan.

“No aspect of this trial adjustments our judgment that Brittney Griner is being wrongfully detained and needs to be launched instantly,” Value mentioned. “That’s the reason we have put ahead numerous weeks in the past what we take into account to be a critical, substantial proposal and an effort to hunt her launch, to hunt the discharge of Paul Whelan as properly.

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“We’re in communication with the Russians on this matter, and we encourage them to pursue this constructively.”

Griner’s attorneys in Russia appealed her conviction. She was arrested for bringing vape cartridges containing oils derived from hashish by a Moscow airport in February. She was convicted and obtained her sentence on Aug. 4.

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner drinks water as she listens to the decision in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki, simply outdoors Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 4, 2022.
(Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photograph through AP)

Rodman has a historical past of interacting with world leaders.

Rodman met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in 2013 and was among the many first People to satisfy him. The previous Chicago Bulls star addressed a letter to Kim in January 2014, and about 10 months later captured American Kenneth Bae was launched, in accordance to TMZ Sports. Rodman had appeared within the nation a number of instances since Bae’s launch.

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In 2014, Rodman described Putin as “cool” in an interview on FOX Enterprise. He mentioned he wasn’t speaking about Putin’s politics. He mentioned Putin shook his hand and left throughout his interplay with him in a visit to Russia.