The trial in Russia against the American basketball player and Olympic and world champion Brittney Griner, charged with drug smuggling, began this Friday in the court of Khimki, a satellite city of Moscow.
Only two foreign journalists, both Anglo-Saxons, were allowed to enter the room, which led to protests from the media that came to cover the hearing, in which the Prosecutor’s Office is expected to present the charges and establish the order of the trial.
Griner, 31, a player for UGMK Yekaterinburg, was detained on February 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetvo airport when customs officials found in her hand luggage “electronic cigarettes” and “a liquid with a particular smell” of cannabis oil, according to the federal service of Russian customs.
In May, the United States declared that Russia had “unjustly” detained the athlete, 31 years old and 2.03 meters tall. His case is in the hands of the US special envoy for people taken hostage.
The American, twice awarded Olympic gold with the United States (2016 and 2020) and who has been a member of the Russian team since 2015, She can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for drug smuggling.
The basketball player’s family has turned to US President Joe Biden to secure Griner’s release, while both the WNBA and NBA have also turned to demanding his release.
Griner’s arrest occurred at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, which has raised suspicions about the possible political motivation of the case.
Forbidden substances
The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, denied today that the criminal proceedings against the basketball player have a political background.
“I cannot comment on the work of Justice. The facts show that the famous sportswoman was detained with prohibited substances containing narcotics.”Peskov said in his daily press conference, adding that it is a crime punishable by law.
Therefore, he said, the case “cannot be politically motivated.”
“I insist, this is just a verification of what she was arrested with and what our legislation contemplates. Verdicts are issued by the court,” Peskov clarified. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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