Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow, on June 27. Photo: Kirill Kudravtsev/AFP via Getty Images U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in court Monday in a Moscow suburb with cuffs on her wrists. At the pretrial hearing, a judge ordered her to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage in February.
The trial is scheduled to start Friday; if convicted on the charge of large-scale transportation of drugs, she could face up to ten years in prison. Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star whose salary is a quarter of the NBA rookie minimum, was playing in a Russian league to supplement her income during the off-season. As the Associated Press notes, fewer than one percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted.
Although Griner’s family did not want to attract attention to her case toward the beginning of her detention, the State Department announced last month that she had been “wrongfully detained,” opening the possibility of release through negotiations with Russia. Her case is now being overseen by the Office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Earlier this month, the U.S.
Media in the United States and Russia have speculated over potential prisoner swaps that could bring Griner home after more than four months in Russian jail. But attorney Maria Yarmush — an expert in foreign citizens’ ordeals in Russian courts — told the Kremlin-funded channel RT that any such deal would require Griner to be convicted and sentenced and to apply for a presidential pardon.
I wonder if she still hates the US now that she has had some time in Russia?
So what is this? More anti-Russia propaganda? Seems to me like laws were broken. Don’t do that.
US gov. can swap ten Russian mafia bosses, whomever, just get BrittneyGriner out of there. VP SecBlinken
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