Britney Greener "Maintaining Faith" as Russian Courts Set Next Trial Date

Trial against Americans Basketball starBrittney Grinerbegan in a court in Moscow on Friday. A 31-year-old star WNBA player faces up to 10 years in prison for drug smuggling charges.

Greener, accompanied by a legal team, arrived at the Khimki Municipal Court on the outskirts of Moscow, wearing handcuffs and a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt. The judge heard the witness's testimony during the three-hour session before announcing that the trial would resume on July 7.

Greener, who plays for the Russian basketball team outside the WNBA season, said that in February, Moscow's International Russiajust a few days before the invasion of Ukraine beganhelped the relationship with the United States.

After an airport sniffer dog found an arc cartridge in his luggage, authorities later later issued a "significant amount" of cannabis. He said it contained oil of origin. Marijuana is illegal in Russia for entertainment and medical purposes, and possession of marijuana is subject to heavy penalties.

Grinner has not issued her public statement since her arrest and her accused of accepting or rejecting her charges. The position is still unknown.

US Chargé d'Affaires Elizabeth Ludo attended a court session on Friday, after which Grinner told reporters that she "she keeps her faith." Ruud said she had talked to Greener, and that the basketball player was doing "as expected."

According to Media Zona's outlets, which cover Russian justice, most media outlets were banned from court on Friday.

Russian expert Jeff Haun told CBS News this week that Russia has effectively taken Grinner as a "hostage."

"It's very clear that they didn't have to bring the severity of the prosecution as they did," he told CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata. "They chose to do it in order to attract the attention of the United States and threaten her with the worst possible consequences." 

Not seen since the Cold War era Due to the low relationship between Moscow and Washington, Greener's family and teammates are an even more valuable asset for Russian publicity, which was unobtrusive to draw public attention to her case and potentially avoid making her. .. However, in May, the US State Department declared her illegally detained and transferred oversight of her case to a special envoy to the hostage affairs.

The Kremlin on Friday rejected her idea that the Grinner case was a political motive.

"There is no political motivation," President spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing. "She was in possession of illegal drugs, including drugs."

Grinner's wife, Cherel, told Rev. Al Sharpton on this week's radio show that she hadn't heard her partner since she was detained. However, Greener said in a letter that he was "difficult." She was scared. " 

" I won't let them break me, "Grinner said in her letter, Cherel said. "I know what they're trying to do, but I'll do my best until I get home."

"I hope it's fast, because I'm not okay," Cherel said. Said.

Greener supporters releasedto the Biden administration in exchange for former US Marine Corps Trevor Reed in exchange for Russia's Konstantin Yaroschenko. Requested to promote a similar prisoner exchange. A pilot sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking in April.

Russian media speculates that Moscow may try to replace Grinner with the infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The so-called "merchant of death" is currently serving 25 years in prison in the United States for supporting plots and terrorist organizations that kill Americans.

Another former US Marine Corps has been detained in Russia:Paul Whelanhas been sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage. The US government said he was being used as a negotiating tip for potential negotiations between Moscow and Washington.

In:
• Marijuana
• War
• Brittney Griner
• Ukraine
• Russia
• Cannabis
• Vladimir Putin
• Moscow