Griner’s supporters and US officers say she is wrongfully detained and have referred to as for her launch as fears mount that she is getting used as a political pawn amid rising tensions between Russia and the US.
On the trial, Griner was accused by a prosecutor of smuggling lower than a gram of hashish oil in her baggage.
“Being sufficiently conscious that the motion of narcotic medicine is just not allowed… no later than February 17, 2022 at an unspecified location underneath unspecified circumstances from an unidentified particular person [Griner] purchased two cartridges for private use, which contained 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams,” the prosecutor stated, in accordance with a TASS reporter within the corridor of the Khimki Metropolis Courtroom.
The prosecution argues that Griner meant to import the medicine into Russia’s territory and put the prohibited substances right into a backpack and a suitcase, in accordance with TASS. Hashish oil is topic to manage in Russia and is assessed as a narcotic drug.
The second listening to of the trial will happen on July 7.
Some have speculated that Griner may very well be launched in a prisoner swap, however over the weekend US Secretary of State Antony Blinken refused to touch upon the matter.
Griner’s attorneys, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina, stated on Friday they had been unaware of any plans to alternate Griner for a Russian prisoner held within the US.
“Now we have no details about it, sadly,” the attorneys stated throughout an impromptu press convention.
Through the listening to, an worker of the Sheremetyevo airport customs providers was one of many two witnesses, the attorneys stated. He was interrogated on the circumstances of Griner’s detention and private search, the attorneys stated, including that they might not disclose any of the data that he revealed through the testimony.
When requested why Griner refused to talk on the costs in courtroom, the attorneys stated: “She has the proper to take action later.
US Embassy Cost d’Affaires Elizabeth Rood, who attended Friday’s listening to, reiterated that Griner had been “wrongfully detained,” including that “the follow of wrongful detention is unacceptable wherever it happens and is a risk to the protection of everybody touring, working, and dwelling overseas.”
She spoke to Griner within the courtroom. “She is doing in addition to will be anticipated in these troublesome circumstances and he or she requested me to convey that she is in good spirits and is maintaining the religion,” Rood stated.
“The US authorities, from the best ranges, is working onerous to convey Brittney and all wrongfully detained US nationals house,” she added.
Griner’s detention, which has been repeatedly prolonged, has sparked a wave of help amongst dozens of organizations within the US which have joined Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, in urging President Joe Biden to strike an alternate take care of Russian authorities to launch Griner and convey her house safely as quickly as attainable.
“It is actually, actually troublesome. This isn’t a state of affairs the place the rhetoric is matching the motion,” she stated. “I do should sadly push individuals to guarantee that the issues they’re telling me can be matching their actions and so it has been the toughest factor to steadiness as a result of I am unable to let up. It is over 130 days and BG’s nonetheless not again.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated the case is just not politically motivated throughout a convention name with reporters Friday.
Whereas the Kremlin can’t touch upon the course of the trial, Peskov stated, he emphasised that Griner was detained after carrying “unlawful medicine that contained narcotic substances” which is punishable by the Russian regulation.
“Primarily based on what I stated, her arrest can’t be politically motivated,” Peskov added.
Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star Sport starter final week, with the All-Star Sport scheduled to happen on July 10 in Chicago. Her detention remains to be “robust on our staff,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard informed reporters earlier than the staff’s recreation Monday in opposition to the Indiana Fever.
She expressed hope Griner will return house quickly and that President Biden will “take the steps to make sure that she comes house.”
CNN’s Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.
