Brittney Griner reportedly will stand trial starting July 1 in Russia

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

Brittney Griner will go on trial starting July 1 in Russia, where she has been detained for more than four months on a drug charge. Her lawyer, Alexander Boykov, confirmed the start date for CNN after the handcuffed WNBA star made a brief appearance Monday for a preliminary hearing behind closed doors in a court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki.

The court ruled that her detention be extended for six months pending her trial, Boykov added. He told the New York Times that he expected her trial could take up to two months, depending on the court’s workload. Video from an NPR reporter showed the two-time Olympic gold medal winner entering and leaving court, apparently without commenting, in the custody of officials. She previously had been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until July 2.

The 31-year-old Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was stopped Feb. 17, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at Sheremetyevo International Airport and accused of carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. Like many WNBA players who head overseas during the offseason, Griner plays in Russia to supplement her income.

The U.S. State Department has categorized Griner as “wrongfully detained,” a strategy shift that indicated it would no longer wait for the case to proceed through the Russian legal system and would take more aggressive steps to negotiate her release. If convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs, she could face 10 years in prison. According to the Associated Press, fewer than one percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and acquittals can be overturned.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/27/brittney-griner-trial-date/

[James48]

1. Sorry-

But I don’t really have much compassion for someone caught actually in possession of illegal substances in a foreign country. Anybody who travels internationally has to know that laws are different in other countries.

It is unfortunate, but it is not at all that unexpected that those who actually do carry such items on a plane risk a great deal of emotional pain in the years ahead.

Especially in places like Russia.

[obamanut2012]

3. Where is your proof she actually had THC on her?

She has lived there part of the year for many years. I am waiting for HER to say she had it on her, in a free country, before I believe Putin's "justice" system.

[maxsolomon]

6. your lack of compassion is noted.

russia is quite capable of manufacturing a charge when they want a hostage or political prisoner. none of us have any clue what griner actually did - could be just tobacco, could be just CBD, could be THC. we just don't know, and I don't trust russia as far as I can throw it.

look at the crimes navalny's been convicted of - patently trumped up.

[toesonthenose]

7. This, 10000%. To just automatically accept the charges, FROM RUSSIA, and make judgement is horrible

I'm sure any trial will be a show trial anyway with the decision already decided. I love Joe Biden, but he is not above criticism. I feel he should be pulling more strings, either with Russia directly, or with another country as a mediator to get her out of there.

[AllTooEasy]

9. CBD and THC are also illegal in Putinstan

Link: https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/countries/cannabis-in-russia-laws-use-history/#:~:text=to%20do%20so.-,Is%20CBD%20legal%20in%20Russia%3F,CBD%20products%20in%20the%20country.

Putinland is not the only country with this restriction: https://hempking.eu/en/in-what-countries-is-cdb-legal-list-of-countries/

Please be careful when traveling overseas

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. On Feb.17, just before the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Griner was en route to join her club in

Ekaterinburg after a FIBA team break when Russian officials took Griner into custody at a Moscow airport and charged her with drug smuggling. Authorities say they found vape cartridges containing hashish oil, an illegal substance in Russia, in Griner’s luggage. Some national security analysts question whether Griner was actually carrying the vape cartridges, suggesting the charge has yet to be proved. On June 14, Griner’s detention was extended a third time to July 2.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-06-26/brittney-griner-situation-detained-russia-return-release

[Bayard]

2. Sounds like she'll never beat this charge

How did they know it was cannabis oil? Did they take them apart? Anybody else's?

She's a pawn.

[obamanut2012]

4. I don't even necessarily believe she even had it on her

[LittleGirl]

5. I can't believe you might think Russia isn't setting her up?

How do you know BG took vape with cannabis? Where’s the proof?
They detained her as a pawn and I don’t believe a word they say.

She’s a star. Of course Russia detained her, because they could.
And the wnba made sure she didn’t earn enough so she didn’t have to go there.

Fight me, lol.

[Submariner]

8. Putin will smack her down with 10 years

in prison, THEN the negotiations will take place to do something like "remove certain sanctions", which will further inflame Ms Griner's supporters at home imho.

Putin will want to milk her detention for all its worth, for as long as he can, to sway our elections and fortify the pissed off atmosphere everyone has for each other nowadays.