Brittney Griner, a US basketball player, pleaded guilty in Russia to drug charges but denied intentionally breaking the law.
In February, the Olympic gold medalist was taken into custody at an airport near Moscow after cannabis oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage.
She told Khimki that she was in a hurry to pack and that the cartridges ended up in her bag.
Last week, her trial began on charges that could land her 10 years in prison.
Griner’s wife had earlier asked President Joe Biden for help in obtaining her release. Cherelle Griner was informed by Mr Biden that he was working hard to get her released as soon as possible.
The president was already sent a letter by the 31-year old basketball star who is accused of possessing and trafficking drugs.
Russian officials warned the US to not “make noise about the case in the public”. Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that the US should not “make noise in public about the case” due to the hype surrounding the topic and the desire for the music among politicians.
“I would like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intention. Brittney Griner stated in English that she didn’t intend to violate the law. She was handcuffed and wore a red T shirt and trousers. The trial was then rescheduled for one week.
Griner, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury’s star player, is one of the most popular players in the US women’s professional league. Griner has been awarded WNBA and Euroleague titles, as well as two Olympic Golds. She had traveled to Russia in order to play basketball club basketball. Since 2014, she has been a member of the EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg.
Although cannabis oil is illegal in Russia and her arrest at Sheremetyevo, near Moscow, was a high-profile one. This happened a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Relations between Russia and the US are in a poor state. It took many months for the Biden administration to make her case a priority. On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the US National Security Council stated that she was wrongfully held by Russia in “intolerable circumstances”.
Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, tweeted that US Embassy officials attended Thursday’s hearing, and that Griner was given a letter by President Biden. “We will not surrender until Brittney, Paul Whelan and all other wrongfully held Americans are reunited avec their loved ones.
Whelan is currently in 16 year prison for spying charges that were rejected by his family.
Russia denies that the detention of the player is linked to the US’s icy diplomatic relations. However, John Garamendi (a member US Congress) warned last month that war could worsen the problem. “We don’t want Ms Griner becoming a pawn of the political battle being waged around the globe right now.”
Rumours suggest that Brittney Griner may be willing to swap her and Paul Whelan, a prominent Russian prisoner held in the US, for Viktor Bout, an arms dealer. Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death”, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being caught in a US sting operation.
Cherelle Griner stated earlier at a Phoenix Mercury rally that she was frustrated that her wife had not been able speak to her in 140 days. My wife isn’t going to get justice.
