American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of marijuana, looks inside the defendants’ cages before a trial in Khimki, a suburb of Moscow , Russia on August 2, 2022.
Evgenia Novozhenina | Reuters
US basketball star Brittney Griner returns to a Russian court on Thursday as her drug trial moves towards a finale, which could lead to a 10-year prison sentence and then a prisoner exchange one of the most notorious arms dealers in the world.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and star of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 17 with a vape box containing hashish oil in it. her luggage.
Marijuana is illegal in Russia for both medicinal and recreational purposes.
The bullets that threw the 31-year-old Texan into the geopolitics were triggered when President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24.
At a time of the most strained US-Russian relations since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, US President Joe Biden is under pressure to intervene on behalf of detained Americans – including Griner.
The United States said Griner was wrongfully detained and made what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a “significant offer” to Moscow to exchange Russian prisoners for American citizens held in Russia. , including Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
A source familiar with the matter says Washington is willing to trade convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who inspired the 2005 Hollywood film “Lord of War,” starring Nicholas Cage.
Russian officials say no deal has been reached. They argue that Griner – known as “BG” to basketball fans – violated the country’s laws and should be judged accordingly.
The Kremlin has also repeatedly warned Washington against resorting to loose diplomacy, or negotiations conducted through press releases. They say this strategy can deflect swaps.
Griner’s attorney on Tuesday said the trial would end very soon, and once the court issues a ruling, a swap between Russia and the United States would become legally possible.
Griner, who pleaded guilty but denied intent to violate Russian law, showed little emotion in court. Her attorney said Tuesday that Griner was both nervous and focused as the trial drew to a close.
Wearing round-rimmed glasses and sportswear at each hearing, Griner listened to the proceedings through an interpreter and spoke softly to his attorneys through the bars of the defendant’s cage in Court. Khimki district, a suburb of Moscow.
Before taking her seat, Griner held up personal photos, including many of her wife Cherelle, whom Biden called last month to make sure Washington was working to secure payment. freedom for Griner.
Griner, first selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2013 WBNA draft, flew to Russia to join her team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, for the knockout stages after a stay at home in the United States.
Like several other prominent stars of the United States national team, Griner played in the Russian Women’s Premier League during the WNBA season.
In her testimony last week, Griner expressed confusion over how the vape boxes ended up in her luggage.
She told the court on July 27. “I still don’t understand how they got into my pocket to this day,” If I had to guess how they got into my pocket, I’m must be packed urgently. ”
Griner has been prescribed medical marijuana in the United States for pain from chronic injuries, a popular treatment among elite athletes because it has fewer side effects than some pain medications.
