The narcotics trial of American women’s basketball icon Brittney Griner began in a Russian court on Friday before being adjourned until July 7. Griner is accused of bringing illegal hash oil vape cartridges into Russia when she arrived at a Moscow airport in mid-February.
Griner, 31, appeared at the court in the city of Khimki, outside Moscow, as the trial began, and was seen entering the courtroom wearing glasses and a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt. Along with Griner’s legal team, representatives of the United States Embassy in the Russian capital were also present.
The prosecution opened its case against Griner, who was initially detained at Sheremetyevo airport after arriving on a flight from New York on February 17, when a sniffer dog alerted officials to her luggage and a subsequent search uncovered vape cartridges. prohibited cannabis oil.
Quoted by TASS, prosecutors said that “being sufficiently aware that the movement of narcotic drugs is not permitted… not later than February 17, 2022, at an unspecified place under unspecified circumstances by an unidentified person, [Griner] I bought two cartridges for personal use, containing 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, for a total of 0.702 grams.”
Griner was not asked to plead guilty or not guilty at Friday’s proceedings and will instead do so at a later date. Two witnesses, both customs officials, testified at the hearing, but the absence of others meant the case was adjourned until the afternoon of next Thursday, July 7, according to RIA.
The charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in Moscow, Elizabeth Rood, told reporters outside the court that Griner “It is working as well as can be expected under these difficult circumstances.”
“He asked me to convey to him that he is in a good mood and that he keeps the faith,” Rod added.
If found guilty, Griner could face between five and 10 years in prison.
US officials have claimed that Griner is being used as “political hostage” and a possible bargaining chip for a prisoner swap later on.
Unconfirmed reports have claimed that a swap deal could include Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in a US prison following arms-trafficking charges.
However, claims that Griner is a political pawn were again rejected by Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday.
Peskov reiterated that the Russian legal process must take its due course and that the Kremlin would not compromise Griner’s trial in any way.
President Putin’s spokesman has previously said that Griner should not receive special treatment simply because she is a foreigner.
Griner’s attorneys told the media Friday that they had no information about an alleged prisoner exchange, adding that the basketball player had “no complains” about their conditions of detention.
“She is engaged in physical education according to the rules, both in the cell and on a walk,” attorney Maria Blagovolina said, according to Match TV.
Attorney Alexander Boykov added that Griner was grateful for the support she had received from people like NBA male icon LeBron James.
Griner, the Phoenix Mercury star, two-time Olympic champion and eight-time WNBA All-Star, was arriving in Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason in his homeland, something he had done since 2014.
Before his trial, Griner had his detention extended until December while his case unfolds.
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