WNBA megastar Brittney Griner's detention in Russia is prolonged through a month
WNBA megastar Brittney Griner's detention in Russia is prolonged through a month
A Russian courtroom has prolonged the pre-trial detention of WNBA basketball celebrity Brittney Griner by using one month, her Moscow attorney tells NPR.
Griner's lawyer, Alexander Boikov stated a snap listening to used to be introduced for Friday throughout which the choose extended the 31-year-old athlete's detention beforehand of a trial on drug possession expenses in mid-June.
"It should take longer. It ought to occur quicker," stated Boikov, who described the scheduling ambiguity as "typical."
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and big name core with the Phoenix Mercury, used to be detained at the Moscow airport in February after vape cartridges containing hashish oil had been allegedly observed in her luggage.
Griner had simply arrived in Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the country's expert women's basketball league.
The drug prices raise a most penalty of 10 years in prison.
Boikov described Griner's temper as "normal" given her situations in a Russian prison.
"She's been dealt with OK and has no issues or complaints about her health. Everything is as OK as it should be," he said.
He referred to that jail officers had issued her a lengthier mattress in March after Griner — who is 6 feet, 9 inches tall — complained about wellknown accommodations.
She presently shares a mobilephone with two Russian girls additionally looking ahead to trial on comparable drug charges.
"The Russians talk some English," introduced Boikov. "They're now not buddies , they're now not enemies. They aid every different as they can."
Earlier this month, the U.S. authorities declared Griner was once "wrongfully detained" — a pass that strikes accountability for her case from consular affairs to a unique envoy for hostage affairs.
A State Department legitimate stated the branch did no longer have a remark on Friday's development, however said, "As we have noted repeatedly, the Russian device wrongfully detained Ms. Griner."
The professional stated U.S. diplomats attended Friday's listening to and had been in a position to communicate with Griner. "She is doing as nicely as can be predicted in these circumstances," the legitimate added.
Boikov tells NPR her prison crew had been in contact normally with U.S. officials. "Everything they can do, they're doing," he says.
The snap listening to got here the identical day as Russian media speculated about a feasible prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington involving Griner.
Last month, the White House agreed to a prisoner change with the Kremlin to free Trevor Reed, a U.S. Marine sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison, on what the U.S. additionally stated have been false charges.
