American basketball star Brittney Griner is back in court for her trial for cannabis possession amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure her release.
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands behind bars in a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Since Brittney Griner last appeared in her trial for cannabis possession, the question of her fate expanded from a tiny and cramped courtroom on Moscow's outskirts to the highest level of Russia-US diplomacy.
In an extraordinary move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept a deal under which Griner and Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction, would go free.The Lavrov-Blinken call marked the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia sent troops into Ukraine more than five months ago, the direct outreach at odds with U.S. efforts to isolate the Kremlin.
Griner has acknowledged there were vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she was arrested at a Moscow airport in February. But she insisted that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage because she was packing hastily. Griner played for a Russian women’s basketball team in the WNBA off-season.To bolster her case, her defense lawyers have presented testimony from doctors that she was prescribed cannabis as a treatment for pain.
A conviction, however, could potentially pave the way for Griner's exchange as Russian officials said it could only happen after the judicial process is completed.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Brittney Griner in Russian court for first time since proposed prisoner swap was revealedIn Tuesday's hearing, Griner's defense team argued that a state-appointed forensic expert made technical and procedural errors when examining the cannabis-infused vape cartridges found in her luggage.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner back in Russian court on cannabis chargeAmerican basketball star Brittney Griner is back in court for her trial for cannabis possession amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure her release.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner appears in court for ongoing trial as US attempts to negotiate prisoner swapThe Russian trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner continues as US officials attempt to negotiate a prisoner swap for her release.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner Russia trial resumes amid intensified diplomacyAcquittals are rare in Russian criminal prosecutions - less than 1% of cases.
Leer más »
Brittney Griner Russia trial resumes amid intensified diplomacyAcquittals are rare in Russian criminal prosecutions - less than 1% of cases.
Leer más »