Basketball star Griner pleads guilty to drug possession in Russia trial

 

Photo Credit: AP.

American basketball star Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to drug possession during her trial in a Moscow court in Russia on Thursday, The Associated Press reports. The WNBA star said she had no intention of committing a crime.

Her representatives confirmed to The Associated Press that Griner pleaded guilty to drug position charges. Russian news reports noted that Griner said through an interpreter at the Court hearing that she had acted unintentionally because she was packing in haste, .

Griner was detained in February at Sheremetyevo Airport Moscow after vape canisters with cannabis oil allegedly were found in her luggage. She is facing charges related to large scale transportation of drugs and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.

Her arrest and trial is coming amidst a strain in relations between the U.S. and Russia over the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. Griner had earlier sent a letter to Joe Biden pleading for him to do everything possible to secure her release and not to forget her and other American detainees in Russia.

Russian police had escorted Griner, handcuffed and clad in a bright red T-shirt and sports trousers, into the courtroom past a crowd of journalists before Thursday’s hearing, according to The Associated Press.

Deputy Chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow Elizabeth Rood told reporters after the hearing that she spoke to Griner in the courtroom and shared a letter from President Joe Biden that she read, The Associated Press reported.

 “She’s eating well, she’s able to read books and under the circumstances she’s doing well,” Rood said of Griner.

“I would like again to emphasize the commitment of the U.S. government at the very highest level to bring home safely Ms. Griner and all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained as well as the commitment of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to care for and protect the interests of all U.S. citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia,” Rood said.

 In a response Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov disagreed with U.S. description of Briner as “wrongfully detained” and warned that “attempts by the American side to make noise in public ... don’t help the practical settlement of issues,” according to The Associated Press.

The White House reportedly said Biden called Griner’s wife on Wednesday to assure her that he’s doing all he can to obtain the athlete’s release, as soon as possible.