Brittany Griner in Russian court on June 27.Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty
WNBA playerBrittney Grinerwill stand trial in Russian court beginning July 1 and remain in custody until hearings are complete, her lawyer Alexander Boykov toldThe New York Times.
Earlier this month, Russian state media agency TASS reported that a court has ruled to keep Grinerin custodythrough at least July 2. At the hearing, the court ordered that Griner will remain in Russia’s custody for at least six more months during the trial.
Griner’s hearing comes more than four months after she was detained. In February, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow after officialsallegedly foundvape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in Russia, in her luggage.
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Brittney Griner.Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty
On Saturday, the Phoenix Mercury released a statement viaTwitterto announce the House of Representatives had passed Congressman Greg Stanton’s bipartisan resolution to push for her release.
“Stanton and many others are continuing to work with the White House, State Department and Brittney’s family to secure her safe return,” the team tweeted.
In a statement, Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, expressed her gratitude “for this overwhelming show of support from Congress.”
“We need to be doing all we can to keep Brittney’s case on the forefront and finally put an end to this nightmare,” she added.
“This resolution sends a clear message: securing Brittney’s release must be the highest priority of the U.S. Government, and we know the American people support every effort made to bring her home,” Terri Carmichael Jackson, executive director of the WNBA added in a statement on Saturday.
If convicted, Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.
source: people.com
