Whelan’s brother, David, said he did not have enough information to know whether Griner’s plea would be good or bad news for her and his brother.
Others have suggested that she could be traded along with Paul Whelan, a former Marine and security director serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on an espionage conviction that the U.S. But the wide discrepancy between Griner’s alleged offense and Bout’s global dealings in deadly weapons could make such a trade unpalatable to Washington. Russia has agitated for Bout’s release for years. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. Russian media have speculated repeatedly that Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. We urge you to make a deal to get Brittney back home swiftly.” One of America’s most prominent Black activists, he urged Biden to arrange a prayer meeting with Griner.Īn organization called Win With Black Women sent Biden a letter saying Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called Cherelle Griner, “assuring her and stating publicly that Brittney’s safe return was a matter of personal priority however, we are concerned that the rhetoric does not appear to align with the actions taken to date. “Four months is too long for this to have gone on, and I hope the president acts on her pleas to come home,” the Rev. 20, suggesting the proceedings could last months.Īlthough Griner’s supporters initially kept a low profile, calls for Washington to act spiked after the trial’s first day on July 1. Such delays are routine in Russian courts and her detention has been authorized through Dec.
Griner’s trial was adjourned after its start last week because two scheduled witnesses did not appear. administration … describes those who were handed prison sentences for serious criminal articles and those who are awaiting the end of investigation and court verdicts as ‘wrongfully detained’ reflects Washington’s refusal to have a sober view of the outside world,” Ryabkov snapped. criticism, including a description of Griner as wrongfully detained and dismissive comments about the Russian judicial system, “makes it difficult to engage in detailed discussion of any possible exchanges.” The State Department has designated Griner as wrongfully detained, moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, effectively the government’s chief hostage negotiator.Īsked about the possibility of Griner being swapped for a Russian jailed in the U.S., Ryabkov, the senior Russian diplomat, noted that until her trial is over “there are no formal or procedural reasons to talk about any further steps.” may have little leverage with Moscow because of strong animosity over its actions in Ukraine. Washington hasn’t disclosed its strategy in the case and the U.S. They spoke after Biden read a letter from Griner in which she said she feared she’d never return home. The White House said Biden called Cherelle Griner on Wednesday to assure her that he’s doing all he can to win her release as soon as possible. Griner emphasized “that she had committed this act through negligence, unintentionally,” her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters outside the court near Moscow after the guilty plea, The trial was then adjourned until July 14. Speaking through an interpreter, Griner told the court that she had no intention of committing a crime and had acted unintentionally because she had packed for Moscow in a hurry.
Griner, 31, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport while returning to play basketball in Russia, and police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The abrupt guilty plea by the Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist came amid a growing chorus of calls for Washington to do more to secure her freedom nearly five months after her arrest amid rising tensions between the United States and Russia over Ukraine.Ī senior Russian diplomat said earlier that no action could be taken by Moscow on Griner’s case until the trial was over, and her guilty plea could be an effort by her and her advisers to expedite the court proceedings. MOSCOW (AP) - American basketball star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty Thursday to drug possession charges on the second day of her trial in a Russian court in a case that could see her sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.