MOSCOW —
US basketball star Brittney Griner, who is in detention in Russia on drug
charges, will go on trial in Russia on July 1, a court said on Monday.
اضافة اعلان
Griner, a two-time
Olympic gold medalist and
WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in
February after she was found carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her
luggage.
She was charged
with drug smuggling, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison in
Russia.
Griner’s detention
came days before Russian President Vladimir Putin defied US warnings and sent
troops into Ukraine, prompting Western powers to impose sweeping sanctions and
send military aid to Kyiv.
A court in the
town of Khimki outside Moscow said on Monday that Griner’s trial will begin on
July 1.
Griner’s lawyer
said on Monday the court had extended her detention for the duration of the
trial.
“This was
absolutely expected,” he said.
He said his
client, who was seen by journalists being escorted in handcuffs, was “worried”.
Washington says
that Russia has “wrongfully detained” the 2.06m basketball star, 31, and turned
her case over to the US special envoy in charge of hostages.
The WNBA has also
said it is working to bring Griner home.
She is considered
among the greatest female basketball players and is a high points scorer.
She was playing club
basketball in Russia before the resumption of the US season, a common practice
for American stars seeking additional income.
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