American basketball star Brittney Griner Her lawyer pleaded guilty to drugs in a Moscow court on Thursday, with family and friends on theirs. Demands the U.S. government to do more to free her..
Greener, 31 years old Detained in February At Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow after Russian officials said they found an arc canister with hemp oil in her luggage.
Grinner’s lawyer Alexander Boykov told reporters outside the courtroom After hearing on Thursday, basketball stars admitted that Ark Canisters belonged to her, but said she unintentionally brought them to Russia.
Her other lawyer, Maria Bragovolina, said they wanted the generosity of the courtroom. Greener’s next hearing will be next Thursday.
NBC News wasn’t in court when Greener spoke.
Her latest appearance will come later President Joe Biden Grinner’s wife tried to reassure him that he was working to secure her liberation as soon as possible. Greener wrote her emotional letter to the president earlier this week, begging him to bring her to her home.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tweet After hearing that US Embassy officials spoke to Greener and sent a letter from Biden when he attended Biden’s trial. “We will not forgive until Britney, Paul Whelan, and all other illegally detained Americans reunited with their loved ones,” he said.
Former U.S. Marine Corps Welan 16 years in prison For spies.
Her arrest took place a few days before Russia began the invasion. UkraineAnd emphasizes fraying Washington-Moscow Relations..
The Kremlin was accused of using Greener as a political pawn, and the Biden administration said she was “unjustly detained.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Greener being detained As a hostage In Russia.
Originally from Houston, 6’9 Greener is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and center of Phoenix Mercury. I played for a Russian basketball team during the WNBA off-season. Her trial began last week.
She was handcuffed on Thursday and was taken to court in glasses, a red T-shirt and red trousers. Greener later joined the court with three US embassy representatives and her lawyer. There was no TV camera and only a few journalists could enter the room.
Since her trial began, her family, friends, and colleagues have increased their call for the United States to do more to bring her home.
Her team will meet with her support in Phoenix on Wednesday, and Rev. Al Sharpton will arrange for Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet him and a group of religious leaders in Russia on Tuesday. I urged you.
The White House was said by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Called Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, on Wednesday To assure her that he is working to ensure the release of Greener as soon as possible. According to the White House phone, he also read a draft letter he sent to Greener on Wednesday.
Greener Handwritten letter Addressed to Biden earlier this week, she begged him to do everything she could to take her home, fearing she could be in a Russian prison forever.
In May, the State Department called Greener “Illegal detention“And transferred oversight of her case to the State Department’s presidential envoy for hostage issues. US officials said they were working behind the scenes to free her.
So far, Washington has not officially commented on the possibility of a prisoner exchange, despite Grinner’s speculation in Russian state media in May. Can be exchanged Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout, convicted of 25 years in prison on NBC News in the United States, was unable to confirm these reports.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that media and online “promotion and hype” surrounding Americans detained in Russia have hampered exchanges between Moscow and the United States regarding prisoner exchange. according to State news agency Tas.
Prior to Greener’s conviction, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Alexei Zaitsev said Wednesday that Americans had been arrested for “a serious crime confirmed by clear evidence.” But he said she was free to appeal and seek her amnesty. Regarding the possibility of prisoner exchange, Mr Zaitsev said the court needed to reach a verdict first. He estimated that this could take at least a month.
