Dennis Rodman says he’s planning to travel to Russia to help advocate for Britney Griner’s release.
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In a statement to NBC News Saturday, the NBA star said that he has been authorized to travel to Russia and plans to visit the country this week. “I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl. I’m trying to go this week,” he explained to the outlet at a restaurant in Washington D.C. However, a senior Biden administration official claims Rodman will do more harm than good if he tries to assist the WNBA star with her release.
“It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts,” the official said.
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This is not the first time Rodman has used his platform to smooth over international diplomacy issues. He’s developed a friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un within the past decade and said Russian president Vladimir Putin was “cool” during a 2014 visit to Moscow. He also claimed to help secure the release of Kenneth Bae from North Korea.
“I ask for your mercy to prisoner Kenneth Bae and would be eternally grateful for his safe return” because that would be “a big step towards bridging the gap between our two nations,” he wrote to Kim Jong Un.
Recently, the State Department advised U.S. citizens not to travel to Russia, citing the war in Ukraine and the potential harassment of U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials.
“Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19-related restrictions, and terrorism. U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions. U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited as a result of sanctions imposed on Russian banks. There are reports of cash shortages within Russia.”
As previously reported, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for cannabis possession.