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WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention was prolonged six months pending the result of her trial scheduled to start out Friday, officers introduced throughout a listening to Monday.
The Phoenix Mercury participant was seen handcuffed and escorted by guards to and from the continuing, which had been rescheduled multiple times, in line with her lawyer Alexander Boykov.
The 6-foot-9 Griner was detained by the Russian Federal Customs Service at a Moscow airport on February 17 after they allegedly discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her baggage.
Griner, 31, may face ten years in jail.
Russian state media reported the Russian authorities would launch the WNBA champion in alternate for convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, aka the “Service provider of Dying.”
Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the US, the place he was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to kill US residents, supply of anti-aircraft missiles, and offering support to a terrorist group.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on CNN Sunday however refused to debate any negotiations for Griner when questioned by host Jake Tapper.
“I’ve received no greater precedence than ensuring that Individuals who’re being illegally detained in a technique or one other world wide come house, and that features Paul Whelan, and that features Brittney Griner,” Blinken mentioned. “That is an absolute precedence.”
Griner’s agent tweeted that whatever the trial, negotiations for Griner’s launch must be ongoing.
“We count on @POTUS and @VP to do all the things of their energy, proper now, to get a deal finished to carry her house.”
Right this moment’s listening to was administrative in nature and never on the deserves. That mentioned, the very fact stays that the U.S. Authorities has decided that Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained and getting used as a political pawn. [1/2]
— Lindsay Kagawa Colas (she/her) (@kagawacolas) June 27, 2022
Final month, a number of members of the Boston Celtics confirmed up for observe through the NBA Finals sporting T-shirts in help of Griner.
“It’s extraordinarily robust seeing what she’s going by means of. I do know everyone sees and feels that, and clearly, we’re all collectively in help attempting to carry her again to her household and issues like that. Yeah, sporting these shirts right this moment in help of her,” mentioned Jayson Tatum.
The WNBA named Griner an honorary starter for the WNBA All-Star Sport scheduled for July 10 in Chicago.
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