American basketball star Brittney Griner is due back in a Russian court Thursday to resume a trial that was jolted last week when she abruptly pleaded guilty to drug possession charges.
Cherelle Griner, right, listens to the Rev. Al Sharpton during a news conference in Chicago, Friday, July 8, 2022. Griner, the wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, joined Sharpton and WNBA players and union leader Terri Jackson at the event a day after Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession charges in a Russian court.MOSCOW —
The Phoenix Mercury center and WNBA all-star was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February while returning to play basketball in Russia. Police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. In custody ever since, Griner, 31, faces charges that could bring her a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have said they were doing all they could to win the release of Griner, as well as other Americans the U.S. considers “wrongly detained” by Russia, including former Marine Paul Whelan.
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