Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug offenses in Russia

Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug offenses in Russia

The next part of the trial is scheduled for July 14.

Griner was arrested on February 17 at an airport in Chimki, outside Moscow, after Russian authorities said they had found e-cigarettes with traces of cannabis oil.

AFP writes that Griner says that her actions were unintentional and that she was in a hurry when she packed.

Griner asked for more time to prepare before giving her testimony, writes the news agency Reuters on its website.

The American basketball star Detention has been extended on several occasions, most recently until 20 December. US President Joe Biden’s government has previously said Griner was detained on false grounds.

Elizabeth Rood, at the US Embassy in Moscow, told reporters she spoke to Griner in court and shared a letter from Joe Biden.

– She eats well, she gets to read books and feels good given the circumstances, Rood says according to the news agency AP.

– I want to emphasize again the commitment of the US Government at the highest level to secure the return of Griner and all US citizens detained on false grounds, as well as the commitment of the US Embassy in Moscow to care for and protect the interests of all US citizens detained in Russia, continues she.

On Monday, a letter from Griner was delivered to Joe Biden. Most of the letter is said to be private, but Griner’s representatives have published some passages of the handwritten letter.

“I am sitting here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection that my wife, family, friends, Olympic shirt or other achievements provide, I am terrified that I will stay here forever,” writes Griner.

Joe Biden also spoke this week with Griner’s wife and guaranteed that he is working to get her released as soon as possible, according to the White House.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov spoke earlier on Thursday about the possibility of exchanging Griner for a Russian prisoner who is imprisoned in the United States. He then said that before the trial is over “there is no formal reason to talk about further steps”, writes the news agency AP.

Griner is one of the world’s best basketball players. She plays for the WNBA team Phoenix Mercury and has won two Olympic golds. When it is low season for the WNBA, she has played for Russian UMMC Ekateringburg, which she has done since 2014. About half of the WNBA players play abroad during the low season, reports the BBC.

Read also: Russian politician: “The hype” does not help Griner

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