Brittney Griner, the WNBA star, said Wednesday at her drug trial in Russia that a language translator offered during her questioning only translated a quarter of what was said and that officials forced her to sign documents without explanation.
Griner was detained in February at a Moscow airport. She admitted in court earlier this month that she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she landed in Russia, but she claims she had no criminal intent and the cartridges were accidentally in her suitcase.
Brittney Griner Testifies in Russian Court
During her testimony, the Phoenix Mercury star recalled a 13-hour journey from Arizona to Moscow while recovering from COVID-19. Griner claimed she doesn't know how the cannabis oil, for which she had a doctor's recommendation, found up in her suitcase, but she said she had packed in a hurry while under duress.
She reported having her bags examined upon her arrival in Moscow on February 17 and is brought away when inspectors discovered the cartridges. Griner said that, in addition to the interpreter's inadequate translation, she was not given an explanation of her rights or access to counsel, and that she was instructed to sign paperwork without being told what they meant.
Griner claims that after hours of processes she didn't understand, she was permitted to give over her items to a lawyer before being brought away in handcuffs. She said she only received a basic translation of the charges leveled at her during a February 19 hearing in which a court authorized her arrest, Daily Mail reported.
Griner said earlier this month that she had mistakenly put two vape cartridges containing tiny quantities of cannabis oil into her suitcase when traveling to Russia. Griner had been in Russia during the WNBA's offseason to play basketball with a local club.
When airport officials discovered the cartridges, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was detained and charged with drug trafficking, a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The Phoenix Mercury star pled guilty to the accusations brought against her on July 7, her Russian legal team acknowledged at the time, emphasizing that the choice was hers and hers alone.
Griner said during her evidence on Wednesday that, in addition to obtaining an incorrect translation of what she was charged with, she never got an explanation of her rights or access to legal representation. She was instructed to sign paperwork without being informed of what she was signing her name to, as per Independent.
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US Offers Exchange of Prisoners With Russia
Meanwhile, according to people briefed on the matter, the Biden administration has offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US prison sentence, as part of a potential deal to secure the release of two Americans held by Russia, Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.
According to these sources, President Joe Biden supported the idea to exchange Bout for Whelan and Griner, which had been discussed since early this year. Biden's support for the swap outweighs the Department of Justice's overall aversion to prisoner swaps.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the US made a significant proposition to Moscow weeks ago for Whelan and Griner, who are being held illegally.
The top US diplomat said he planned to discuss the issue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week, his first conversation with his counterpart since the conflict in Ukraine began, telling reporters that "I would hope that by speaking with Foreign Minister Lavrov, I can advance the efforts to bring them home."
The person would elaborate on the contents of the significant offer, saying "it was in Russia's court to be receptive to it, but that does not leave us inactive, as we continue to express the offer at very senior levels."
The families of Whelan, who has been imprisoned by Russia for suspected espionage since 2018, and WNBA star Griner, who has been incarcerated in Moscow for drug use since February, have encouraged the White House to achieve their release, even through a prisoner swap if necessary, according to CNN.
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