When the American basketball star Brittney Griner returned from a national team assignment in February, she was arrested at an airport in Moscow.
The reason, according to Russian authorities, was that she was carrying illegal drugs when she entered the country.
It was not until March that the public learned that she had been arrested.
Since then, Griner has been detained in Russia.
One of those who had contact with her during her detention is the Swedish basketball player Amanda Zahui.
- Actually, we do not know much more than what the public knows.
It was completely quiet until March, we found out at the same time as the public, says Zahui to SVT Sport.
For some time now, Zahui and Griner have also been exchanging letters.
"Still says she's fine"
- In my first letter, I wrote how much she meant to me and my family.
I also wrote how grateful I am that she helped my mother as she went through her cancer treatment.
Brittney is her mother's idol, says Amanda Zahui and continues:
- I do not know what exactly she goes through in a Russian prison as a black woman who does not look like everyone else.
She still says she's fine.
She says she can have her own clothes.
I do not even know if there are such large prison clothes (Griner is 2.06 meters long and has size 52 in shoes).
But she still says she's fine, but I do not know if it's because she does not want to worry us.
Do you think they're censoring her?
-
The letters are handwritten and that is her signature.
I do not think she writes 100% truth about how it is because they read the letters.
But she seems to be in a better mood than I would be in that situation, says Zahui.