Detention of WNBA's Griner in Moscow extended for 1 month

[Calista241]

Source: AP

The lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner said Friday her pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended by one month.

Griner’s lawyer Alexander Boikov told The Associated Press he believed the relatively short extension of the detention indicated the case would come to trial soon.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained at the Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The Biden administration says Griner, 31, is being wrongfully detained. The WNBA and U.S. officials have worked toward her release, without visible progress.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-moscow-hearing-live-updates-0ff42a2ceab60724f86f6c7e7f81313a

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pictures of the hearing at link.

[keopeli]

1. As a US citizen who lived in Moscow in the 90s, please, do NOT go to Russia!

Why any citizen of a Western Nation, especially the US, would travel to Russia for any reason beggars belief. It's right up there with why any American would go to North Korea. You are simply asking to be used as a pawn by the dictator.

I moved to Moscow in 1991, before the Soviet Union collapsed. I was 24 years old. Because of Gorbachov, Perestroika, Glasnost, and the fall of the Berlin Wall, I felt it would not be a risk. I was wrong, of course. I was scrutinized, observed, followed, had state agents undercover befriend me, and many more terrifying ordeals. I watched the coup of August 1991, I watched the Soviet Flag lowered forever over the Kremlin in December 1991.

It was a combination of luck and the failed state that existed at the time that I escaped relatively unscathed.

Even if you have family in Russia, even if you are vacationing with a Russian travel agent, there is not a good reason to go there today or for the next several years.

I give this warning from time to time in the hope that one day I may actually dissuade someone who would otherwise go. You are putting your life in the hands of Putin.

[keopeli]

2. I wonder if we will start seeing US states undergo prisoner exchanges after Roe is reversed?

I do not think we are far off from that level of separation. A convicted murderer in Louisiana who had an abortion is traded for a convicted felon in California who set fire to an abortion clinic and a person died. What was unthinkable not long ago suddenly seems realistic.

[maxsolomon]

3. the longer she's kept in limbo, the better for Putin.

did she have a cannabis vape cartridge? it's irrelevant; Griner is a negotiating chip.

I hope I'm wrong, but for now I think she will be convicted, sentenced to 10 years, and exchanged at some point that is advantageous and leveraged - after the 2024 election, possibly, if a repuke wins. there will have to be a quid pro quo.

she'll come back scarred from this. anyone would.

[stopdiggin]

4. well the bargaining chip thing is pretty obvious.

(although there are plenty of countries around the world where drug offenses are still extremely serious sh*t - and travelers should be aware that their own 'relaxed attitude' is not going to cut a lot of ice 'over there.')

But it seems pretty clear that Griner's greatest offense - was having the misfortune of attempting travel, when U.S./Russians relations were diving into the toilet. Here's sincerely hoping that she gets to come home soon. (and doesn't end up spending years as a political pawn)