Topline
WNBA star Brittney Griner’s Russian trial over drug charges which she pleaded guilty to last week ended Thursday without a verdict, as the owner of her Russian basketball team and a teammate testified as character witnesses.
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside … [+]
Key Facts
Maxim Rybakov, director of Griner’s Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg told the Associated Press he testified as a character witness, and said he told the court “what a big role she played in the success of the Ekaterinburg club and Russian women’s basketball in general with her performances in the EuroLeague, how she raised our national rating,” according to CNN.
Player Evgeniia Beliakova said she told the court “Brittney has always been a very good teammate, so my role here is just to be with her, to support her,” the Associated Press reported.
Rybakov said Thursday’s court appearance was the first time he had seen Griner since February and said “she feels well, looks good.”
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, when asked about the possibility of a prisoner swap involving Griner, told the New York Times, “We never discuss issues of exchanges.”
The trial is expected to continue Friday, as guilty pleas do not end Russian trials.
Key Background
Griner was detained in a Moscow airport in February when vape cartridges containing hashish oil were discovered in her luggage. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison. The U.S. considers her to be wrongfully detained. When pleading guilty, Griner said she did not intend to break the law and was packing in a hurry. Earlier this month, Griner exchanged letters with President Biden. Biden spoke with Griner’s wife Cherelle on the phone to assure her that is working to secure the basketball star’s release.
Further Reading
Biden Has Long-Awaited Call With Brittney Griner’s Wife (Forbes)
‘Terrified I Might Be Here Forever’: Brittney Griner Sends Handwritten Plea To Biden, Agent Says (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/07/14/brittney-griners-russian-teammate-and-director-provide-character-witness-in-trial/