Brittney Griner

The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial.

The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. But the discrepancy between Griner’s case — she allegedly was found in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil — and Bout’s global dealings in deadly weapons could make such a swap unpalatable to the U.S. At Monday’s closed-door preliminary hearing at the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, Griner’s detention was extended for another six months. Fewer than 1 percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned. The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. Amid the tensions, Griner’s supporters had taken a low profile in hopes of a quiet resolution, until May, when the State Department reclassified her as wrongfully detained and shifted oversight of her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs — effectively the U.S. government’s chief negotiator.

A Russian court set Friday as the start date for the trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner for alleged cannabis possession.

"As a general proposition ... I have got no higher priority than making sure that Americans who are being illegally detained in one way or another around the world come home," he said. There is no reason to believe that the charges are legitimate or that her trial will be fair. "Hostage diplomacy cases rely on the pretense of law. The Phoenix Mercury star was also ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. Griner's detention and trial come at an extraordinarily low point in Moscow-Washington relations. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned. On Monday, the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki extended Griner's detention for another six months, to Dec. 20, after she appeared for a preliminary hearing held behind closed doors. Russia has sought Bout's release for years. Griner had previously been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until Saturday. "It was good to see her in some of those images, but it's tough. It is good to see her. But the discrepancy between Griner's case -- she allegedly was found in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil -- and Bout's global dealings in deadly weapons could make such a swap unpalatable to the United States.

More than four months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport for cannabis possession, the US basketball star has received a start date for her trial.

But the discrepancy between Griner’s case – she allegedly was found in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis – oil and Bout’s global dealings in weapons could make such a swap unpalatable to the US. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the US, acquittals can be overturned. The Phoenix Mercury star was also ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been held in detention on a drug charge since Feb. 17.

Detained in Moscow: The U.S. government is now characterizing Brittney Griner’s arrest in Russia as a “wrongful detainment” and her detention has been extended. Russian news media has speculated that she could be exchanged for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed “The Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. Profile: Chiney Ogwumike is on a tireless quest to have it all. The U.S. State Department has categorized Griner as “wrongfully detained,” a strategy shift that indicated it would no longer wait for the case to proceed through the Russian legal system and would take more aggressive steps to negotiate her release. League growth strategy: As the WNBA looks to expand, players are hoping for owners who want to spend. Because that’s a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call.”

Griner -- who has been held in Russia since her arrest at a Moscow airport on allegations of attempted drug smuggling -- attended the preliminary hearing in ...

He has denied the charges. Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason, was arrested February 17. She said last week she hasn't talked to her wife since February 17.

The 'political pawn' and 'merchant of death': How WNBA icon became a Russian toy.

The US Government is under heavy pressure to secure Griner’s release, regardless of the outcome of her trial. Despite being one of the greatest players of her generation, Griner still has to treat the WNBA like a part-time job. “She is like nobody who has ever played and she has dominated every level she’s ever been,” Quinn told Today, Explained. “And then she’s also become kind of a cultural icon as well. The maximum annual salary of a WNBA player this season is around $228,000 USD – with Griner one of a handful of players pocketing that amount. Having failed to secure her release within the space of a month or so, the US government suddenly changed tack: they declared Griner was ‘wrongfully detained’ and put the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs in charge of their case. And the ongoing lack of coverage, particularly in the US media, has exposed what many supporters and experts see as a gendered bias against women’s professional sports. Russia had finally agreed to let the two speak over the phone via a call which would be patched through to Phoenix in the US via their Moscow consulate. It took until the third week of March for Russia to confirm Griner was the player in detention. And that was not the road you wanted to be on.” In the meantime, Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February, a week after supposed Griner’s arrest date. In late February – believed to be the 17th – Griner arrived in Sheremetyevo airport, outside Moscow, on her way to Ekaterinburg for the EuroLeague season. She became a high-school phenomenon due to her elite skills and athleticism, shooting to prominence when highlights of her dunking made national news – as did her record 25 blocks in a single game.

Aces star A'ja Wilson got emotional after seeing the first images of Brittney Griner following her pretrial hearing in Russia on Monday.

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Updated June 27, 2022 at 1:03 PM ET. MOSCOW — Brittney Griner briefly appeared in public Monday, and moved one step closer to facing trial on drug charges ...

Griner's precarious situation has raised a number of concerns in the U.S. — including worries that publicizing her case and issuing loud calls for her release might only make her more valuable to Russia as a pawn. She's being held as a hostage, the U.S. said. Like many WNBA players, Griner plays in overseas leagues during the U.S. league's offseason, earning far more than her WNBA salary. No U.S. Embassy officials were present for Monday's hearing. "Not more than that." The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 1, Griner's lawyer, Alexander Boikov, said. A representative for the U.S. Embassy told NPR that it was informed the session was a "closed administrative meeting" and Embassy staff would not be allowed to attend. The Phoenix Mercury and U.S. Olympic team star was bracketed by four security officers and a dog as she was led down a stairwell to a courtroom for Monday's hearing — a process that was repeated in reverse less than an hour later, as Griner was returned to detention. And 40 min later the preliminary hearing is over. No date set. The news emerged from a preliminary court session that was closed to the public — but journalists did get a rare glimpse of Griner as the WNBA center walked through a hallway in the courthouse. MOSCOW — Brittney Griner briefly appeared in public Monday, and moved one step closer to facing trial on drug charges in Russia. In a short court proceeding, a judge ordered Griner to be detained for the length of her trial, Griner's legal team told NPR.

Professional basketball player Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia, and her wife, Cherelle, is fighting for her release. Here's what to know so far.

The 31-year-old native Houstonian was a member of Team USA’s 2016 gold medal team during 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and a member of the 2014 WNBA Championship team, Phoenix Mercury, according to her WNBA bio. Every voice 𝐈𝐒 vital in the fight to get BG home.” So, who is Brittney’s wife and how is she trying to help Brittney? Here’s what you need to know. The U.S. State Department also called it a "wrongful detention" and has been trying to negotiate her release, per the Associated Press. You stuck by my side at the lowest and at the highest!” Brittney Griner's name has been all over the news lately, and for good reason.