Brittney Griner is on trial in Moscow on drug charges

Brittney Griner, the American basketball star who has been held in a Russian prison since her February arrest on drug smuggling charges, appeared in a Moscow court on Friday at the start of her trial.

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 after being accused of having cannabis oil in her luggage.

“Being sufficiently aware that the transport of narcotics is not permitted … no later than February 17, 2022 at an unspecified location in unspecified circumstances by an unidentified person.” [Griner] bought two cartridges for personal use that contained 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams,” a prosecutor said in court on Friday, according to CNN.

CNN reported that “prosecutors argue that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russian territory and pack the banned substances in a backpack and suitcase,” and that cannabis oil “is controlled and classified as a narcotic in Russia.” .

The trial is scheduled to continue next Friday. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.

Griner, one of the most successful women basketball players in history who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has become a symbol of the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia. Her detention, which coincided with Russia’s internationally condemned invasion of Ukraine, is widely believed to be politically motivated.

In May, the United States again classified Griner as “wrongly imprisoned.”

There is growing speculation that Russia may seek a prisoner swap with the US, with the New York Times reporting that the Kremlin appears to be linking Griner’s fate to that of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison in the United States.

That could put President Joe Biden in a diplomatic bind, according to the Times.

“The large discrepancy between the cases of Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout underscores the extreme difficulties President Biden would face if he sought a prisoner exchange to free Ms. Griner, the imprisoned WNBA player, from Moscow custody. The Biden administration, reluctant to incentivize the arrests or kidnappings of Americans abroad, would have a hard time justifying the release of a rogue figure like Mr. Bout,” the Times reported.

But the Biden administration is facing mounting pressure to secure Griner’s freedom. Her peers in the sports community have expressed their support and urged the US to do something to end her incarceration.

LeBron James’ brand, Uninterrupted, released a message last month urging Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to continue working for their release.

“For over 100 days, BG has been subjected to inhumane conditions in a Russian prison and has been denied communication with her family and loved ones,” the message said. “As a decorated Olympian and a member of an elite global sports community, BG’s imprisonment must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sports and all Americans who travel internationally. It is imperative that the US government address this human rights issue immediately and do whatever is necessary to bring Brittney home.”

Griner was arrested when she returned to Russia to finish her season at UMMC Ekaterinburg. Like many American basketball players, Griner spent a long time competing in Russia during the offseasons of the WNBA.

Although she was arrested in February, her detention was not made public until several weeks later.

“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representative in Russia, her family, her teams and the WNBA and NBA,” Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said after the Russian authorities’ announcement had their arrest in March. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment further on the details of her case, but can confirm that her mental and physical health remains our primary concern as we work to bring her home.”