WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug charges

[SZonian]

UPDATE

WNBA's Cathy Engelbert on Brittney Griner: 'We know she's safe,' we 'need to be patient'
Jason Owens
April 11, 2022, 8:10 PM

Before celebrating the arrival of the next generation of WNBA players on Monday, commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the perilous plight of one of the game's biggest stars.

Engelbert kicked off Monday's WNBA draft with an update on Phoenix Mercury All-Star Brittney Griner, who remains imprisoned in a Russian jail. Engelbert didn't provide specifics on Griner's situation, but did assure reporters that Griner is "safe."

"Obviously we’re getting a ton of support from the government, from specialists," Engelbert said. "And her representation is able to visit with Brittney.

"We know she’s safe, but we want to get her home. So it’s just a very complex situation right now and we’re following the advice. There’s not a day that goes by that we’re not talking to someone that has views on what we’re doing and how we’re moving forward." ... Yahoo sports

Because "feelings".  Let's not talk about her stupidity and use her as an example of how NOT to behave or what NOT to do...smdh.

[catfish1957]

Because "feelings".  Let's not talk about her stupidity and use her as an example of how NOT to behave or what NOT to do...smdh.

She can rot there as far as I am concerned.  If you are too stupid to know or understand the laws and rules as a guest......

[rustynail]

Drugs are bad.

[SZonian]

She can rot there as far as I am concerned.  If you are too stupid to know or understand the laws and rules as a guest......

[berdie]

She can rot there as far as I am concerned.  If you are too stupid to know or understand the laws and rules as a guest......

Too bad she never watched Midnight Express. Or the news coverage of the guy that was in North Korea.

[mountaineer]

She should be familiar with Russian drug laws by now. She's been with that team several years.

[mystery-ak]

 April 14, 2022 5:33pm EDT
Brittney Griner arrest in Russia: State Department says WNBA star 'doing as well as can be expected'
Fox News Digital obtained State Department's response to Reps. Donalds and Owens' March letter
By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News

    The State Department on Thursday responded to a letter from Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Burgess Owens, R-Utah, calling on the Biden administration to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, letting him know Americans will not be made political pawns in the midst of the country’s war on Ukraine.

The letter on March 10, which Fox News Digital obtained exclusively, expressed concerns about Brittney Griner’s detention in the country. Griner was arrested in February after Russian officials said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.

Griner could face up to a decade in prison if she’s convicted.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-arrest-state-department-wnba-star-response

[GtHawk]

She should be familiar with Russian drug laws by now. She's been with that team several years.

I'm going to go with arrogance, she probably believed she was so special the Russians would let it slide.

[jmyrlefuller]

Was she framed? I have a suspicion she was.

But Putin grossly miscalculated thinking that Americans would be up in arms, when in fact we yawned. Just because we're good at women's sports doesn't mean we care about them.

[SZonian]

I'm going to go with arrogance, she probably believed she was so special the Russians would let it slide.

In America, her race, "gender" and sexual preference are the trifecta that would have most likely given her a pass.  She apparently thought those 3 cards were applicable worldwide due to the indoctrination folks like her have come to believe as facts.  Welcome to the real world Brittney.

[mountaineer]

ANOTHER UPDATE

Detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Moscow extended for 1 month
AP
Updated: 9:19 AM EDT May 13, 2022

MOSCOW, Russia — The lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner said Friday her pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended by one month.

Griner's lawyer Alexander Boikov told The Associated Press he believed the relatively short extension of the detention indicated the case would come to trial soon.
Advertisement

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained at the Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. ...

source

[mystery-ak]

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner leaves a courtroom after a hearing in Khimki, just outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 13, 2022.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-seen-first-time-russia-arrest-pre-trial-detention-extended

[mountaineer]

THIS JUST IN: Griner still in custody. BBC weighs in.

Brittney Griner: Players step up calls for basketball star's release from Russian prison
May 29, 2022


Players have intensified their calls for Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison on the 100th day of the basketball star's detention.

Griner was in Russia to play during the off-season when she was arrested on drug charges at an airport near Moscow.

Players say the Phoenix Mercury centre has been wrongfully detained and are calling on President Joe Biden to help.

NBA point guard Kyrie Irving asked the White House "to prioritize Brittney's safe return home immediately". ...

The WNBPA wrote: "We are calling on everyone to use their platforms, no matter the size, to bring attention to her wrongful detainment to get [Griner's wife] Cherelle that meeting with President Biden and to get our sister home."  ...

Oh, well, then. Kyrie Irving!

[mountaineer]

LATEST NEWS:

Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia extended half a month: Report
by Ryan King, Breaking News Reporter
 | June 14, 2022 03:04 PM

WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia has been extended by another couple of weeks, according to new reports.

The 18-day extension of Griner's detention, which began in February, came at the "request of the investigation," as Russian authorities accuse her of smuggling vape cartridges containing a cannabis oil known as hashish oil, which is illegal to possess in Russia, into the country, per Russian state outlet TASS. She will now be released on July 2 instead of her scheduled date of June 18, Russian officials said.  ...

She is being held on pretrial detention that was extended first in March and again in May. Officials are mulling charges for the large-scale transportation of drugs, which could carry up to 10 years in prison if convicted, the New York Times reported.

The State Department maintains she has been "wrongfully detained" and has urged Russia to release her. Griner's detention has become a key diplomatic pressure point between the United States and Russia as relations between the two nations have deteriorated amid the war in Ukraine, which began Feb. 24.  ...

Washington Examiner

[mountaineer]

Uh, Bicycle Joe's administration is letting Britt down. They must hate lesbians or something. Homophobes.

Brittney Griner’s Spouse Questions Administration, State Dept For Failed Phone Call With Detained WNBA Star
by Alejandro Avila
June 21, 2022

Cherelle Griner, four-year spouse to WNBA star Brittney Griner, spoke with the US government regarding a scheduled call with the basketball player, who is under wrongful detainment in Russia after getting caught with THC vape cartridges at an airport.

With the two celebrating their fourth anniversary on Saturday, the phone call was scheduled in coordination with the US Embassy in Moscow.

The call reportedly never came to be … Griner desperately attempted to get ahold of the US State Department but was left on silent.

According to the Associated Press, the call never reached Cherelle despite Griner making 11 calls to the departments at the helm of the scheduled call.  ...

She added that despite hearing commitments to meet with President Joe Biden to aid the effort to bring Griner home, she’s losing hope of ever reaching that point.

“At this point, it’s starting to feel like a no,” she said.

Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison.

“I find it unacceptable, and I have zero trust in our government right now. If I can’t trust you to catch a Saturday call outside of business hours, how can I trust you to actually be negotiating on my wife’s behalf to come home? Because that’s a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call,” Cherelle added. ...

Full story at Outkick

[rustynail]

Cherelle, wasn't that a car from the 60's?

[Kamaji]

Cherelle, wasn't that a car from the 60's?

I think that was Chevelle.

[mystery-ak]

 June 27, 2022 10:31am EDT
Brittney Griner appears in Russian courtroom, criminal trial date set

Brittney Griner has been held in Russia since February

By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News


Brittney Griner made a public appearance in a Russian courtroom Monday as officials set a date for her trial months after she was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs through a Moscow airport.

The criminal trial was set for July 1, and the WNBA star was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. The court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki extended her detention for another six months. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Griner was seen being led into court with handcuffs. The 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury center was wearing glasses and a gray T-shirt as she received word about the trial date.

Griner was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in February after she was accused of bringing in vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis through security. Her arrest came a week before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine but news of her detention did not make it out until March.

U.S. officials and the WNBA kept a low profile when it came to speaking out about Griner’s arrest. It was not until the State Department reclassified Griner as being "wrongfully detained" that her fellow basketball stars started to ramp up the pressure to get her released.


WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 27, 2022.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-russian-courtroom-trial-date

[Cyber Liberty]

Sorry, honey, but you are no longer in a land where connected people get coddled.  Enjoy your new career of "Prisoner."  See ya in a decade or so.

[heelboy22]

June 27, 2022 10:31am EDT
Brittney Griner appears in Russian courtroom, criminal trial date set

Brittney Griner has been held in Russia since February

By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News


Brittney Griner made a public appearance in a Russian courtroom Monday as officials set a date for her trial months after she was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs through a Moscow airport.

The criminal trial was set for July 1, and the WNBA star was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. The court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki extended her detention for another six months. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Griner was seen being led into court with handcuffs. The 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury center was wearing glasses and a gray T-shirt as she received word about the trial date.

Griner was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in February after she was accused of bringing in vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis through security. Her arrest came a week before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine but news of her detention did not make it out until March.

U.S. officials and the WNBA kept a low profile when it came to speaking out about Griner’s arrest. It was not until the State Department reclassified Griner as being "wrongfully detained" that her fellow basketball stars started to ramp up the pressure to get her released.


WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 27, 2022.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-russian-courtroom-trial-date

Looks like she either saw someone/something suprising or is scared out of her gourd.

[mountaineer]

Brittney Griner Trial Date Set For July 1
by Bill Graff
June 27, 2022

Brittney Griner appeared in court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki today. Her trial date for alleged cannabis possession will begin on July 1st, and she has been ordered to remain in custody for the duration of the trial.

Griner could face up to 10 years in Russian prison if convicted on the charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. The AP reported that fewer than 1% of criminal defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted.

In May, the State Department reclassified Griner’s case as wrongfully detained which shifted her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. That effectively is the United States governments chief negotiator.

This sets the stage for a potential prisoner swap with the Russians, similar to the one in April that brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reid in exchange for a Russian pilot. Russian news media continue to raise the possibility of a deal including Russian Arms dealer Viktor Blount. Blount is currently serving a 25-year sentence for conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing air to terrorists.

That trade would seem to be lopsided, with Griner charged for carrying a vape pen with cannabis residue. The U.S. could include Paul Whelan in the deal for Blount. He is a former Marine and security director who is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage. 

Outkick

[SZonian]

Looks like she either saw someone/something suprising or is scared out of her gourd.

Probably the first time in her life she's facing accountability for her actions...

[mountaineer]

July 1, 2022

MOSCOW — American basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow-area court for trial Friday, about 4 1/2 months after she was arrested on cannabis possession charges at an airport while traveling to play for a Russian team.

Griner was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Police said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil. The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.

Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned.  ...

Griner’s supporters have encouraged a prisoner swap like the one in April that brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy.  ...

AP via NY Post

[mystery-ak]

July 6, 2022 1:04pm EDT
Biden reassures Brittney Griner's wife US is working to secure her release from Russia 'as soon as possible'
Brittney Griner's trial in Russia continues Thursday
By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News

Brittney Griner’s wife finally received a call from President Joe Biden on Wednesday to talk about getting the WNBA superstar out of Russia, where she has been detained since February.

Cherelle Griner and Biden spoke about the Phoenix Mercury player, the White House said in a release. Biden reassured Cherelle that the U.S. is "working to security Brittney’s release as soon as possible."

"President Biden, joined by Vice President Harris, spoke today with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner who is wrongfully detained in Russia under intolerable circumstances," a White House readout of the call said. "The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world. He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney today.

"The President offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance while his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home. Today’s call follows calls that National Security Advisor Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken have had with Cherelle in recent weeks and this past weekend. The President directed his national security team to remain in regular contact with Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and with other families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, to keep them updated on efforts to secure the release of their loved ones as quickly as possible."

more
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/biden-reassures-brittney-griner-wife-russia

[Hoodat]

Biden reassures Brittney Griner's wife US is working to secure her release from Russia 'as soon as possible'

She's screwed.