Brittney Griner trial starts, Russian prosecutors reveal scenario in opposition to WNBA star

WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a courtroom just outside of Moscow on Friday to start her trial a lot more than 4 months following she was arrested in Russia for allegedly possessing a banned material. 

Russian prosecutors exposed their scenario in opposition to Griner, alleging that she was in possession of two cartridges made up of .702 grams of hashish oil February 17 when she was taken into custody at Sheremetyevo Airport with the intention of smuggling in the "narcotics," in accordance to Russian News Agency TASS. 

US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner (C) arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, exterior Moscow on July 1, 2022. - Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA winner, was detained at Moscow airport in February on costs of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-yr sentence.  (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Visuals)

"Getting pretty knowledgeable that it is banned to have narcotic substances in the Eurasian Financial Union, she bought two cartridges keeping .252 and .45 grams of cannabis oil, or .702 grams in whole, for personalized intake from an unidentified human being in an unidentified site and less than unknown situation but not afterwards than February 17, 2022," the prosecutor claimed. 

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Griner, who could confront up to 10 decades in prison if convicted, was escorted into court docket putting on a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt. She instructed a Reuters reporter existing in the courtroom that she is struggling with her detention because of the language barrier. 

She did not enter a plea for the duration of Friday’s listening to and a decide requested the trial be adjourned until finally July 7. 

US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a listening to at the Khimki Courtroom, outside the house Moscow on July 1, 2022. - Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on costs of carrying in her baggage vape cartridges with hashish oil, which could have a 10-year jail sentence.  (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Elizabeth Rood, U.S. charge d’affaires in Moscow, was in court docket and explained she spoke with Griner, who "is doing as properly as can be expected in these difficult situations."

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"The Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Brittney Griner," Rood stated. "The apply of wrongful detention is unacceptable wherever it takes place and is a danger to the safety of anyone touring, operating, and dwelling overseas."

On Friday, a Kremlin official denied U.S. reports that Griner’s arrest was "politically motivated."

"Information are that a popular athlete was apprehended with forbidden compounds that contained narcotic substances. Russian legislation in fact has provisions that stipulate punishment for these crimes," the formal claimed, by way of TASS.

FILE - Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner (42) appears to be to pass as Chicago Sky middle Candace Parker defends during the initial 50 % of activity 1 of the WNBA basketball Finals , Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Phoenix. (G3 Box News Image/Ralph Freso, File)

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Russian news media have continuously lifted speculation that Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed "the Merchant of Death," who is serving a 25-yr sentence on conviction of conspiracy to eliminate U.S. citizens and offering support to a terrorist organization.

Griner’s arrest arrived a week right before Russia released its invasion of Ukraine, but news of her detention did not unfold right up until March. She is experiencing a court technique where the acquittal level is much less than 1%. 

The G3 Box News contributed to this report.