Brittney Griner—a two-time Olympic gold medallist, eight-time all-star, and one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball—was detained on February 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport after officials found a vape cartridge containing marijuana concentrate in her luggage. She was charged with intentionally importing narcotics into Russia, which could carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. With several trial delays, she has been kept in custody since.
Griner’s trial began July 1, more than four months after the initial arrest. While Griner pled guilty to the drug charges in court on July 7, she denied that she had intentionally broken the law.
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law.”
In a handwritten letter to President Joe Biden, Griner shares that she is afraid of being detained forever.
“(As) I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” she writes. “I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020, and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
After reading the letter, Biden spoke to Griner’s wife, Cherelle, and assured her that he was working to obtain the basketball star’s release “as soon as possible,” according to the White House. Griner has been able to have sporadic communications with family; however, on the four-year wedding anniversary between Brittney Griner and her wife, an “unfortunate mistake” took place that prohibited their phone call, Biden administration officials say.
Amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia that coincided with Griner’s arrest, some fear that the war will complicate the matter of her release, noting that Griner, as a prominent Black, LGBTQ celebrity, could have been targeted.
“Under the circumstances, I’m obviously concerned and believe the actions of the (Russian) Federal Customs officers were unnecessary. And it was, in my perspective, targeted and purposeful,” Texas Representative Shelia Jackson Lee tells The Hill. “I don’t underestimate anything that Russia would do. With that in mind, I’ve got to keep fighting on all aspects of the front to ensure her safety.”
Griner was one of many WNBA players who traveled last season to Russia or Ukraine. Griner has played in Russia for the past several winters, most recently playing for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on January 29. Her team took a two-week break, and she was arrested upon returning to Russia.
“I’m frustrated that 140 days have passed since my wife has been able to speak to me, to our family, and to our friends. I’m frustrated that my wife is not going to get justice,” Cherelle says. “Let’s make sure this administration knows that they have our support to do whatever is necessary and that we are not going to ever be quiet until she’s home safely.”
Encompassed with the case, Griner’s lawyers told reporters they were hoping for the most lenient sentencing possible, hoping to take into account “the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance, and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport. We certainly hope this circumstance, in combination with the defensive evidence, will be taken into account when passing the sentence, and it will be mild.”
The next court hearing is scheduled for July 14. Griner’s legal team says they expect the trial to conclude around the beginning of August, though it could take even longer.
Photo courtesy of Twitter
