Cherelle Griner has given her first interview since her wife, Brittney Griner, was arrested back in February under drug charges. The WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medallist is currently imprisoned in Russia and serving a nine-year prison sentence, which is due to be appealed later this month.Brittney was arrested in Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil — for which she has a medical prescription to help with "chronic pain" — were found in her luggage.

What happened to Brittney Griner?

The 31-year-old plays professional basketball for WNBA franchise Phoenix Mercury and Russian outfit UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off-season.

Griner signed for UMMC Ekaterinburg in 2014 and has spent eight years competing in the Russian Premier League.

She was found in possession of 0.7 grams of cannabis oil, which CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King said came from the residue of the vape cartridges and was "less than the size of a raisin."

While Griner has a prescription for cannabis oil in Arizona, the substance is not legal in Russia.

Following a lengthy trial, Griner pleaded guilty and was convicted of drug possession and deliberate smuggling.

In the trial's closing comments, the 2014 WNBA champion said: "I never meant to hurt anybody. I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. I never meant to break any laws here."

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: Brittney Griner #15 of the United States smiles while greeting players after an exhibition game against the Australia Opals at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 16, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Australia defeated the United States 70-67. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

What has Cherelle Griner said?

Brittney has been described as being "wrongfully detained" and concerns have been raised over the basketball star being used as a pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine.

She has spoken to her wife on just two occasions since she was arrested eight months ago. Cherelle is currently battling the biggest fight of her life to help aid her partner's release from prison.

For the first time since the nightmare unfolded, Cherelle has provided details on what it has been like trying to get Brittney home safely.

"On its face, it seems like my wife is a hostage," she said in an interview with CBS Mornings. "To know that our government and the foreign government are sitting down and negotiating for her release, she's a hostage."

Watch: Cherelle Griner gives her first interview since wife Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia

Cherelle was recently assured by President Joe Biden during a White House meeting that he was also doing everything to try and secure her release.

"He's doing what he can, but there's another party in this situation. We are also dealing with the need for Russia to have mercy on BG as well."

She has urged President Vladimir Putin to work with the US government and honour the fact Brittney has worked and lived in Russia for years and helped UMMC Ekaterinburg win three league titles, four EuroLeagues, and the Russian Cup.

"I feel like at this point, it's going to take Putin to have that same mindset and say, 'You know what? Brittney Griner, who came to my country for seven, eight years and helped my country be recognised through sport, paid taxes in my country... I'm going to sit at a table and I'm going to be clear about what I need in return for her release.'"

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 06: Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, speaks during a rally to support the release of detained American professional athlete Brittney Griner at Footprint Center on July 06, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. WNBA star and Phoenix Mercury athlete Brittney Griner was detained on February 17 at a Moscow-area airport after cannabis oil was allegedly found in her luggage. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Biden administration is currently trying to broker a deal for the return of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan — another American imprisoned in Russia — in exchange for Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US.

An emotional Cherelle struggled to hold back the tears as she revealed the nature of the two short phone calls with her wife. The first call was not until August, six months after Brittney was first detained.

"The first conversation, it was so delightful just to hear her voice. At that point I was like, you know what? I think she's okay, we can survive this.

"The second phone call... the minute I hung up I think I cried for about two or three days straight. I didn't get out of my bed. It was the most disturbing phone call I'd ever experienced and I've known BG for 11 years.

"You could hear it, you could hear that she was not okay. If you think about a person suffering and when they have suffered to a max, you could hear that she was at the max that day.

"And there was nothing I could do. I was sitting there and it was like 30 seconds to two minutes of just sitting there in tears.

"It was the most still moment I've ever had with my wife, I didn't have words because at that point, I'm like, I don't know if she has anything left in her tank to continue to wake up every day and be in a place where she has no one."

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury kisses her wife Cherelle Griner in the stands after the Mercury defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-84 in Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Brittney reportedly sent a hand-written letter to President Biden, admitting she was 'terrified she would be there forever' and pleaded for him not to forget about her or the other American detainees.

There is a history of prisoner swaps between the USA and Russia in the past, and Brittney Griner's family and friends are holding out for a similar scenario to bring her home.

"I work in the legal field, I do believe a crime should warrant a punishment but it must be balanced. It tears me to pieces that this is not balanced for my wife right now. I want people to see the fact that she has suffered enough. BG has suffered beyond her crime already."

The White House has not yet received a response to their offer of exchanging Bout for Griner and Whelan.

Griner's appeal hearing is scheduled for October 25th.