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"I want to plead guilty": US basketball star Britney Greener pleads accused of Russian drugs

'I know you're dealing with a lot, but don't forget about me and other American detainees. ..'Grinner previously wrote a note to Byden this week

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Reuters

Reuters

US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022.
US WNBA basketball superstar Britney Greener in 2022 I arrived at the hearing on June 27th at Kimki Court on the outskirts of Moscow. Photo courtesy of KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

KHIMKI — US basketball star Brittney Griner in Russian court on Thursday He pleaded guilty to drugs, but deliberately broke the law.

Grinner was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison a few days after urging US President Joe Byden to secure her at the second hearing of the alleged drug trial. He said he could be sentenced. release.

"I would like to plead guilty to your honor, but I didn't intend to. I didn't want to violate the law," Grinner said quietly in English, which was in court. Translated into Russian for.

"I would like to testify later. I need some time to prepare," she added.

  1. FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 27, 2022.

    'Fear' Britney Greener writes to Byden to promote her freedom

  2. Brittney Griner controls the opening tipoff during a WNBA basketball game, July 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

    Female basketball star Britney Greener was arrested and detained in Russia

The next court hearing was scheduled for July 14th.

Grinner's lawyer Alexander Boykov told reporters she wanted the most generous decision possible.

Two Olympic gold medalists were detained in February at Sheremetievo Airport in Moscow with an arc cartridge containing hash oil, which is illegal in Russia, and have been detained ever since. increase.

In her handwritten notes, she appealed directly to Biden earlier this week, stepping up US efforts to bring her home.

"I know you're dealing with a lot, but don't forget about me and other American detainees ..." Grinner wrote. "Do everything you can to bring us home."

Byden talks to Greener's wife on Wednesday and works to free her "as soon as possible." Said to her, Whitehouse said.

US officials and many athletes are calling for the release of Greener (the "BG" known to her basketball fans).

Her case also raises concerns that Moscow may use it as a means to negotiate the release of prominent Russian citizens under US control. Caused.

Russian authorities have no basis to consider Grinner's detention illegal, and despite Moscow's relationship with the United States over Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, the lawsuit against her is not political. I am saying.

Moscow Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov said Thursday that it would be difficult to exchange prisoners with the United States and suggested that Washington stop talking about Greener's fate.

Greener, the center of Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, like a few other US players, is the UMMC of the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League to increase her income during the WNBA offseason. I was playing at Ekaterinberg.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that if a decision was made, Grinner could appeal her decision or apply for her amnesty. (Report by Reuters, edited by Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan, Angus MacSwan, Jonathan Oatis)

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