Brittney Griner trial begins in Russia

DALLAS — On her 134th day in captivity in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner noticed a decide on the primary day of her drug possession trial after which was taken again to jail the place she’s been warned the Russian authorized system is planning to maintain her by means of at the least December.

“She’s a bit worried because she has a trial,” her Russian lawyer Alexander Boykov mentioned after Griner’s transient courtroom look. She is scheduled to be again in the identical courtroom once more on July 7.  “But she’s a tough kid, and I think that she will manage.”

Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Russia on Feb. 17 after she was accused of carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is unlawful in Russia. If convicted, Griner, 31, faces as much as 10 years in jail.

ABC News experiences that the primary witness at Griner’s trial was a customs officer who was on the airport when she was arrested. According to a Russian reporter contained in the courtroom, who spoke with ABC News, Griner mentioned by means of a translator that she understood the accusation however declined to touch upon the cost, saying she’s going to share her ideas at a later time.

In the few seconds that reporters and photographers are allowed to see Griner throughout her switch to and from the courtroom, a Russian reporter working for ABC News requested Griner “do you have anything to say to Cherelle?”  Griner, escorted by a number of officers, didn’t reply. Griner’s spouse Cherelle, earlier this week, instructed a prisoner swap is her solely hope.

“Because at this point, we’re 130 days of my wife she’s in a country where she don’t even know the language,” she mentioned in a podcast with the Rev. Al Sharpton. “So it’s inhumane on all type of level where she ain’t even speaking.”

Russian news media have repeatedly talked about Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘service provider of loss of life’ as a potential swap. But it is not precisely an equal comparability. He’s serving 25 years on terrorism expenses and conspiracy to kill U.S. residents.

“Brittney Griner is being used as a political pawn, there’s no doubt. I use the word hostage,” mentioned Evelyn Farkas, government director of the McCain Institute. “A prisoner swap is a potential outcome. The problem is whether, for the United States government, we have a prisoner that we’re willing to swap. And what the precedent might be.”

U.S. Embassy officers say they’re doing all they’ll.

“The Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Ms. Griner,” Deputy Chief of Mission on the U.S. Embassy in Moscow Elizabeth Rood mentioned after the Friday courtroom listening to.  “I did have the opportunity to speak with Ms. Griner in the courtroom. She is doing as well as can be expected in these difficult circumstances. And she asked me to convey that she is in good spirits and is keeping up the faith.”

Griner has been ordered held by means of at the least Dec. 20: the anticipated size of her trial.