Brittney Griner admitted to using drugs on Thursday in a Russian courtroom as the dispute over the future of the American basketball star moved more and more into the diplomatic sphere - a daunting prospect for Griner's supporters, given the disagreement between Washington and Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.
On the second day of her trial, Griner appeared before a judge outside the Russian capital and claimed that she had mistakenly brought a prohibited drug into the nation because she had packed quickly.
Brittney Griner's Chance to Return to US
When Griner traveled to Russia in February to play basketball, the Russian authorities claimed they found vape cartridges with 0.7 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage. She has been arrested ever since and might spend the next ten years in a penal colony, The New York Times reported.
Griner is accused of smuggling a "substantial number" of drugs as well as possessing prohibited drugs. By entering a guilty plea, Griner has perhaps expedited the resolution of her case, opening the door for either a plea agreement with the US or, maybe, a clemency petition.
Her greatest chance, according to analysts, is that the Biden administration gains her freedom by releasing a Russian detained in the United States since a guilty conviction is all but guaranteed in a Russian court system that overwhelmingly favors the prosecution. One such prisoner's identity has come to light: Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trader currently serving a 25-year prison term.
However, according to Russian officials, such negotiations can only start when the Griner trial's formalities are through. The 31-year-old Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the first openly gay athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Nike.
American officials maintain that they are doing all in their power to obtain Griner's release. President Joe Biden's letter was presented to Griner during the hearing on Thursday by Elizabeth Rood, the chargé d'affaires at the American Embassy in Moscow.
Russia Warns US Over Brittney Griner's Case
Per The Independent, Griner is one of the best players in the US women's professional league and is the two-time Olympic gold champion. She represents the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
She traveled to Russia in February of this year to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian Premier League after winning the WNBA and Euroleague championships in an effort to improve her earnings during the WNBA off-season, much like other US players have done.
Following her court appearance, Griner's fans and league coworkers showered her with support. Griner is praised for being a role model by her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, who also claims she deserves sympathy, acceptance, love, and support.
Russia has said it is challenging to exchange detainees with the US and advised Washington to remain silent regarding Brittney Griner's situation. Sergei Ryabkov, deputy foreign minister of Russia, urged the US to stop communicating with the basketball player who was just on trial in Russia, claiming that the "hype" surrounding the case won't help.
The remarks from Russia came as preacher and campaigner for black rights Al Sharpton revealed intentions to visit Griner while she is being held there before her most recent trial on Thursday. He joins other activists in requesting that the president set up a meeting between Griner and rights organizations, but Russia has been opposing additional US participation in the matter.
Following President Joe Biden's receipt of a handwritten letter from Brittney Griner on Monday over the Fourth of July vacation, Ryabkov criticized the US. The President replied, but the government of Vladimir Putin cautioned that doing so would simply make a prisoner swap less probable. His remarks came the day after Biden told Griner's wife that the star had been "wrongfully detained," as per Daily Mail.
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