CNN
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Eight months after her incarceration in Moscow, Brittney Griner is celebrating her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison with her family.
The American basketball star released a message on Tuesday saying she was encouraged by the support she received, according to a statement from Maria Blagovolina, a partner at the law firm Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners.
“Thank you to everyone who fought so hard to bring me home. All the support and love is definitely helping me,” Griner said in her message, according to the statement.
Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, spent a few hours with Griner on Tuesday and conveyed numerous birthday wishes to her, the statement said.
The basketball player’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and others close to the basketball player have launched the #WeAreBG campaign to pressure the US government and other parties to bring her home.
In a video released as part of the campaign, Cherelle said: “I felt every moment of the grueling seven months without her.”
She thanked those who supported the cause and specifically acknowledged Joe Biden, saying, “I want to thank President Biden for the government’s efforts to secure her release.”
Griner was arrested on entering Russia in February for possession of cannabis oil. The center pleaded guilty to drug-related charges, saying she accidentally packed vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in a hurry.
In August, the eight-time WNBA All-Star was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison. Next week her legal team will appeal the decision to the Moscow Region Court.
Following her arrest, the US State Department ruled that Griner was wrongly imprisoned, meaning that regardless of her legal status in Russia, the US government will attempt to negotiate her release.
In July, the US government announced that it had made a “substantive proposal” to bring back to the US Griner and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine serving a 16-year sentence in Russia.
But since that announcement, there has been little information on steps taken to release the two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the US Embassy in Russia has not had consular access to Griner since early August, State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed last week.
Griner’s friends and family have tried to renew the support and pressure to bring her home with the #WeAreBG campaign.
Her US teammate Breanna Stewart wrote on Twitter: “We’re not family without #BrittneyGriner. It’s time to BRING YOU HOME. #WeAreBG. Today marks the eighth month of their unlawful detention. She needs her family now more than ever. BG – we haven’t forgotten you and won’t rest until you’re home.”
The tweet followed a FIBA World Championship win in which Griner would have been involved had she not been in prison.
Stewart, along with Griner’s US teammates and other WNBA players, has also shown solidarity with the Pheonix Mercury player by boycotting playing in Russia during the WNBA offseason.
Players regularly join European teams during the off-season to supplement their WNBA salaries, with many like Griner and Stewart having played for teams in Russia.
But this year players have opted to play in different European countries instead.
Courtney Vandersloot, who previously played with Griner at Russian club side Yekaterinburg, said: “The whole situation with BG makes it really hard to believe that it’s safe for anyone to go back there now.”
Other American athletes like Alex Morgan have shown their support on social media by posting pictures of them sporting a picture of Griner on their shirt.
The #WeAreBG campaign has not only asked people to join the movement and free Griner, but also asked people to write notes for Griner as they hope this will be her last birthday in prison.