DenDennis Rodman is heading to Russia to assist with the release British Griner

Dennis Rodman, the reigning NBA champion, is flying to Russia to lobby President Vladimir Putin for the release of Brittney Griner, an American WNBA player who was given a nine-year prison sentence for cocaine charges.
Rodman told NBC News, “I obtained clearance to travel to Russia so as to help the girl. I’m attempting to travel this week. Rodman will have helped a US citizen imprisoned abroad for the second time if he is successful in getting the 31-year-old WNBA player released.
According to Time, the legendary Chicago Bulls player claimed in 2014 that he was able to secure the release of numerous US citizens held by North Korea, including Christian missionary Kenneth Bae.
Bae was charged with attempted overthrow of the government and sentenced to prison in North Korea. Because of his personal friendship with Kim Jong Un, the dictator of North Korea, whom Rodman has called a “friend for life,” Rodman was allowed to travel there. Additionally, he has visited Russia numerous times and has previously referred to President Putin as “awesome.” Griner, 31, was detained after being found in possession of drugs at the a Russian airport in February.
In her suitcase, police discovered cannabis oil capsules that later tested negative against more than a gram of THC. She was later found guilty after a politically motivated trial and given a nine-year prison term in Russia. As Griner’s wife Cherelle discussed the matter with CNN in July, she disclosed that on each 5 hour trip to court in Russia, her wife was confined to a “very, very, very tiny cage.” “It’s quite challenging. The rhetoric is not in line with the behavior in this case “Cherelle started. “I do have to push people, regrettably, to make sure that what they’re telling me matches up with what they’re doing, so it’s been toughest thing to balance since I can’t let up,” she explained.
Less than a week after Griner’s detention, Russia launched troops into Ukraine, escalating already-high tensions between both nations.
The invasion prompted the United States to impose broad sanctions, and Russia accused the US of arming Ukraine. Since then, there has been a lot of hostility between the US and Russia, and Rodman is now trying to mend some of the wounds while advocating for Griner’s release.