Base Britney Griner, 31, Phoenix Mercyury player, two-time Olympic (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and World (2014 and 2018) champion for the United States, pleaded guilty in a court in Khimki, Russia this Thursday on charges of “trafficking in illegal substances”, for which she was arrested on February 17 at the Moscow airport, upon returning to the country after four months of playing for UMMC Yekaterinburg during a break in the WNBA, she faces a penalty of up to ten months in prison.
The confirmation of the claim of the American basketball player was confirmed to CNN International by the player’s lawyers.
Griner left the Russian court without making any statement to reporters and is returning to the bar to hear her on the 14th of this month. Russian authorities claim cannabis-based oil was found in the basketball player’s luggage. Griner has been in pre-trial detention since February 17.
Griner was without charge and unable to contact his family and his wife, Cherell Griner, as he found himself at the epicenter of growing tensions between the US and Russia, exacerbated by the latter’s invasion of Ukraine since February 24 and the war.
In May, the US State Department classified Griner as “detained by mistake” and classified her as a “hostage” of Russia. Now, at a second hearing in the case – after being cross-examined last week – Griner has, to his surprise, pleaded guilty.
Russian prosecutors allege that Griner tried to smuggle cannabis in his luggage. The prosecution theory is based on Britney’s alleged intent to buy and import banned substances from Russia to transact in the US, as prosecutors defended in a previous hearing, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Also on Wednesday, the 6th of this month, in Washington, DC, at the White House, Griner wrote to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the President and Vice President of the United States, that they consider his release and safe return to the country “a priority.” — reported that two senior Biden administration officials themselves called and spoke with Griner’s wife, Sherell Griner, for which the latter is “grateful,” he wrote in a statement.
“But I still can’t talk to Britney and am still worried about her until she gets home safe and sound. The fact that President Biden read the letter I sent him, although it took some time to respond, gives me great hope. I know that Britney will be more comfortable just knowing that she is not forgotten, ”Sherel Griner writes in the same note.
Britney Griner has not been forgotten by the WNBA, and even though the 2022/23 season has already begun, she is remembered in all pavilions and honorably elected to the main five of the All-Star game, which takes place on Sunday, October 10th. Chicago. The player continues to receive a salary despite being in Russian custody for almost five months.
