Unfortunate but you're right. I hate she was ever over there especially during war times.
Free BG (Brittney Griner) this is ridiculous now
- Thread starter Entrepronegro
- Start date
Cherelle Griner Says U.S. Botched Long-Awaited Phone Call W/ Brittney, 'Very Pissed'
Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle, says the U.S. government botched a phone call she was supposed to have with the WNBA superstar over the weekend.
www.tmz.com
Congressman Colin Allred Says U.S. 'Actively Negotiating' W/ Russia For Brittney Griner
Congressman Colin Allred tells TMZ Sports the United States is "actively negotiating" with Russia to bring WNBA superstar Brittney Griner back home.
www.tmz.com
Putin Spokesman Says Brittney Griner's Not Political Prisoner Despite U.S. Claim
Vladimir Putin, through his spokesperson, is denying Brittney Griner's a political prisoner, saying she simply broke Russian law and must face the consequences.
www.tmz.com
That court has a 1% rate for being found innocent.... 
WNBA star Brittney Griner arrives at a hearing at the Khimki court outside Moscow on Monday.
(CNN)A Russian court on Monday scheduled Brittney Griner's trial to start Friday, according to her lawyer, and ruled the WNBA star's detention be extended six months pending its outcome.
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 person Monday, arriving at court handcuffed and flanked by guards in black vests, according to a photo by AFP photographer Kirill Kudryavstev.
Her lawyer, Alexander Boykov, previously told CNN the hearing would occur behind closed doors at the Khimki court, just outside Moscow.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason, was arrested February 17. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The US State Department, however, has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained," a department official told CNN in May.
Griner's detention, which has been repeatedly extended, has sparked a wave of support among dozens of organizations in the US that have joined Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner's wife, in urging President Joe Biden to strike an exchange deal with Russian authorities to release Griner and bring her home safely as soon as possible.
Griner's supporters have expressed concern that she might be used as a political pawn, given rising tensions amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
READ: Dozens of organizations sign letter calling on President Biden to strike deal for Brittney Griner's release
More than 40 organizations -- including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, the National Urban League and the Women's National Basketball Players Association -- signed a letter to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for action to get Griner released.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Cherelle Griner one-on-one last Wednesday, according to a senior State Department official. And US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday he and Blinken spoke with Cherelle "in the last few days ... to convey that we just can't even begin to imagine what the family must be going through" and what "Brittney must be going through."
Cherelle Griner said last week she hasn't talked to her wife since February 17.
"I've got no higher priority than making sure that Americans who are being illegally detained in one way or another around the world come home," Sec. Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" at the Group of 7 summit Sunday.
"That includes Paul Whelan, that includes Brittney Griner, that includes people in a number of other countries," he added. Whelan is a US citizen who was detained in Moscow in 2018 and arrested on espionage charges. He has denied the charges.
"I can't comment in any detail on what we're doing, except to say this is an absolute priority," Blinken said.
While Griner's trial has been scheduled, that should not prevent US officials from trying to negotiate her release, her agent said on Twitter, calling Monday's hearing "administrative in nature and not on the merits."
"The negotiation for her immediate release regardless of the legal proceedings should remain a top priority," Lindsay Kagawa Colas wrote, "and we expect @potus and @VP to do everything in their power, right now, to get a deal done to bring her home."
The US Embassy in Moscow will send a US diplomat to Brittney Griner's hearing on Friday, a US official told CNN.
A State Department spokesperson reiterated that the Griner is "wrongfully detained," and said that support for her and her family will continue. "The US government will continue to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner and her family. We will continue to press for her release."
Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star Game starter last week, with the All-Star Game scheduled to take place on July 10 in Chicago.
Griner's detention abroad is still "tough on our team," Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard told reporters before the team's game Monday against the Indiana Fever.
She expressed hope Griner will return home soon and that President Joe Biden will "take the steps to ensure that she comes home."
Brittney Griner: Russian court schedules start of trial for Friday, her lawyer says - CNN
(CNN)A Russian court on Monday scheduled Brittney Griner's trial to start Friday, according to her lawyer, and ruled the WNBA star's detention be extended six months pending its outcome.
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 person Monday, arriving at court handcuffed and flanked by guards in black vests, according to a photo by AFP photographer Kirill Kudryavstev.
Her lawyer, Alexander Boykov, previously told CNN the hearing would occur behind closed doors at the Khimki court, just outside Moscow.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason, was arrested February 17. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The US State Department, however, has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained," a department official told CNN in May.
Griner's detention, which has been repeatedly extended, has sparked a wave of support among dozens of organizations in the US that have joined Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner's wife, in urging President Joe Biden to strike an exchange deal with Russian authorities to release Griner and bring her home safely as soon as possible.
Griner's supporters have expressed concern that she might be used as a political pawn, given rising tensions amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
READ: Dozens of organizations sign letter calling on President Biden to strike deal for Brittney Griner's release
More than 40 organizations -- including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, the National Urban League and the Women's National Basketball Players Association -- signed a letter to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for action to get Griner released.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Cherelle Griner one-on-one last Wednesday, according to a senior State Department official. And US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday he and Blinken spoke with Cherelle "in the last few days ... to convey that we just can't even begin to imagine what the family must be going through" and what "Brittney must be going through."
Cherelle Griner said last week she hasn't talked to her wife since February 17.
"I've got no higher priority than making sure that Americans who are being illegally detained in one way or another around the world come home," Sec. Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" at the Group of 7 summit Sunday.
"That includes Paul Whelan, that includes Brittney Griner, that includes people in a number of other countries," he added. Whelan is a US citizen who was detained in Moscow in 2018 and arrested on espionage charges. He has denied the charges.
"I can't comment in any detail on what we're doing, except to say this is an absolute priority," Blinken said.
While Griner's trial has been scheduled, that should not prevent US officials from trying to negotiate her release, her agent said on Twitter, calling Monday's hearing "administrative in nature and not on the merits."
"The negotiation for her immediate release regardless of the legal proceedings should remain a top priority," Lindsay Kagawa Colas wrote, "and we expect @potus and @VP to do everything in their power, right now, to get a deal done to bring her home."
The US Embassy in Moscow will send a US diplomat to Brittney Griner's hearing on Friday, a US official told CNN.
A State Department spokesperson reiterated that the Griner is "wrongfully detained," and said that support for her and her family will continue. "The US government will continue to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner and her family. We will continue to press for her release."
Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star Game starter last week, with the All-Star Game scheduled to take place on July 10 in Chicago.
Griner's detention abroad is still "tough on our team," Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard told reporters before the team's game Monday against the Indiana Fever.
She expressed hope Griner will return home soon and that President Joe Biden will "take the steps to ensure that she comes home."
Brittney Griner: Russian court schedules start of trial for Friday, her lawyer says - CNN
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Damn.
This has to be a shitty feeling.
This has to be a shitty feeling.
The way she’s locked down is the type of detainment you see for top ten Terrorist, only thing missing is a black hood around her head!
Especially on some "show trial" type shit.Damn.
This has to be a shitty feeling.
Russia thought America would actually care about her and could get something out of this. Now, they will save face and likely throw the book at her to prove some point.
Just give her 5 years in prison and let her do that since she is facing 10 years.
Agreed. She is starring in her own episode of "Locked Up Abroad".
Why is anyone expecting her to be found innocent? I wish her well. But, she actally did it.
I feel for her, I really do, I can't say that anyone is safe from being screwed by this cruel world, but I must admit I'm also
very upset with her poor decision to go there during all the shit in the news and the Ukraine situation, it's sad that she was so unaware or careless, the state department explains these things for a reason and she or her support team should have known for her to stay the fuck out of Russian for now, her life, safety and freedom are too precious to risk, but in young dumb fashion she took her ass there with a "drug" that has historically been used against us even in our own country without a single understanding the totality of the risk she was taking, or not caring.
I'm sad for her but mad at that! JMO
very upset with her poor decision to go there during all the shit in the news and the Ukraine situation, it's sad that she was so unaware or careless, the state department explains these things for a reason and she or her support team should have known for her to stay the fuck out of Russian for now, her life, safety and freedom are too precious to risk, but in young dumb fashion she took her ass there with a "drug" that has historically been used against us even in our own country without a single understanding the totality of the risk she was taking, or not caring.
I'm sad for her but mad at that! JMO
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Gonna act like I didn't see this.her first day in.......
Because it's not funny.
Even if it were, I didn't see it.
.............................
been lazy today, I won't forget
NYT: RUSSIA HINTS AT LINKING GRINER'S CASE TO FATE OF "MERCHANT OF DEATH"
www.nytimes.com
US basketball star Brittney Griner appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges
(CNN)The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner went on trial at a court near Moscow on Friday, on drug smuggling charges which can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's off season, was arrested February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Griner's supporters and US officials say she is wrongfully detained and have called for her release as fears mount that she is being used as a political pawn amid rising tensions between Russia and the US.
At the trial, Griner was accused by a prosecutor of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.
"Being sufficiently aware that the movement of narcotic drugs is not allowed... no later than February 17, 2022 at an unspecified location under unspecified circumstances from an unidentified person [Griner] bought two cartridges for personal use, which contained 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams," the prosecutor said, according to a TASS reporter in the hall of the Khimki City Court.
The prosecution argues that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia's territory and put the prohibited substances into a backpack and a suitcase, according to TASS. Cannabis oil is subject to control in Russia and is classified as a narcotic drug.
CONTINUED:
Brittney Griner: US basketball star appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges - CNN
Russia Hints at Linking Griner’s Case to Fate of ‘Merchant of Death’
Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.
US basketball star Brittney Griner appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges
(CNN)The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner went on trial at a court near Moscow on Friday, on drug smuggling charges which can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's off season, was arrested February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Griner's supporters and US officials say she is wrongfully detained and have called for her release as fears mount that she is being used as a political pawn amid rising tensions between Russia and the US.
At the trial, Griner was accused by a prosecutor of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.
"Being sufficiently aware that the movement of narcotic drugs is not allowed... no later than February 17, 2022 at an unspecified location under unspecified circumstances from an unidentified person [Griner] bought two cartridges for personal use, which contained 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams," the prosecutor said, according to a TASS reporter in the hall of the Khimki City Court.
The prosecution argues that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia's territory and put the prohibited substances into a backpack and a suitcase, according to TASS. Cannabis oil is subject to control in Russia and is classified as a narcotic drug.
CONTINUED:
Brittney Griner: US basketball star appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges - CNN
Drug smuggling??!! Oh, they gonna put her in the men's prison.
Just so you know, don't bring drugs anywhere outside the US, unless you did thorough research of their drug laws.
After the Dallas Austin situation, thought everybody knew, if you can't get dope when you get there it aint meant to be. They were talking about beheading that motherfucker over 2 ecstacy pills.
After the Dallas Austin situation, thought everybody knew, if you can't get dope when you get there it aint meant to be. They were talking about beheading that motherfucker over 2 ecstacy pills.
NYT: RUSSIA HINTS AT LINKING GRINER'S CASE TO FATE OF "MERCHANT OF DEATH"
Russia Hints at Linking Griner’s Case to Fate of ‘Merchant of Death’
Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.
US basketball star Brittney Griner appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges
(CNN)The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner went on trial at a court near Moscow on Friday, on drug smuggling charges which can be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury player who plays in Russia during the WNBA's off season, was arrested February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Griner's supporters and US officials say she is wrongfully detained and have called for her release as fears mount that she is being used as a political pawn amid rising tensions between Russia and the US.
At the trial, Griner was accused by a prosecutor of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.
"Being sufficiently aware that the movement of narcotic drugs is not allowed... no later than February 17, 2022 at an unspecified location under unspecified circumstances from an unidentified person [Griner] bought two cartridges for personal use, which contained 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil, totaling 0.702 grams," the prosecutor said, according to a TASS reporter in the hall of the Khimki City Court.
The prosecution argues that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia's territory and put the prohibited substances into a backpack and a suitcase, according to TASS. Cannabis oil is subject to control in Russia and is classified as a narcotic drug.
CONTINUED:
Brittney Griner: US basketball star appears in Russian court on drug smuggling charges - CNN
Lot of bullshit for a vape pen. I don't even know what a vape pen is, but Jesus Christ they are going over board.
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True... for Russia.... but countries like Myanmar (Burma).... will execute you for that same amount
There is this thing with Americans where we travel the world and everyone recognizes our rights or what we consider a big deal or not - but the reality, you fuck around someone else's country - you are always subject to their rules - no matter how silly they see to you.
And how exactly do you know that?
I think they saw an opportunity and grabbed her hoping that they US would cave & release who they wanted, which hasn't happened so they are dragging it out in hopes that they US will finally cave.
No way in hell I'm taking drugs into another country, but I feel for ol girl.
She looked bombed out and depleted.
They definitely giving her the business!
They definitely giving her the business!
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