The US women’s basketball star could be sentenced to up to 10 years in a Russian prison
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has warned the US government not to try and exert pressure on Moscow regarding a potential prisoner exchange, as the drugs trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner continued on Thursday.
Griner has been in Russian custody since February 17 after being found with banned hashish oil vape cartridges in her luggage when arriving at Sheremetyevo Airport on the outskirts of Moscow.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist was arriving in Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the WNBA offseason, and while President Joe Biden’s administration has classed her as “wrongfully detained” it has been unable to secure her release.
Speaking ahead of Griner’s third trial hearing at Khimki City Court outside Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that political pressure to try to grant Griner’s freedom…