A Russian court has extended Brittney Griner’s pre-trial detention.
According to Russian state media outlet TASS, Griner will be held in custody until July 2, after being detained in February.
After officials found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in the bag of the 31-year old, Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow took her into custody. Russia is not allowed to possess hashish oil.
According to TASS, a representative of the Khimki Court of the Moscow Region said that her detention was extended by 18 days “at the request of the investigation.”
Griner was held in Russia for more than three months, for 117 days. Griner was in Russia to play basketball with the Russian Premier League team UMMC Ekaterinburg in the offseason. Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow arrested her for allegedly carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. This is illegal in Russia.
According to The New York Times, she was charged with large-scale drug transportation and could spend up to 10 years prison.
Griner’s case was classified by the U.S. government on May 3rd as “wrongfully Detained” in Russia. This means that the U.S. would negotiate her release.
Cherelle Griner, Griner’s spouse, said last month to Robin Roberts, “GMA” coanchor, that her support from the league had brought “comfort” during Griner’s detention.
Griner was honored by the WNBA with a floor sticker bearing her initials (No. 42) at the sideline of all 12 WNBA court courts.
Roberts was told by Cherelle Griner that things like this matter. It lets her know that she is not forgotten.
She added, “Those small moments that I know give her hope”
She is 6-foot-9 and won an NCAA championship at Baylor in 2012.
One week after Griner’s February 17th arrest, Russia invaded Ukraine. Officials are worried that Americans in Russia may be used to leverage the conflict.
Cherelle Griner stated that she would love to meet with President Joe Biden.
“I keep hearing that he has power. She is a political pawn,” she stated. “So, if they are holding her to get you to do something, then I want to see you do it.”
Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department, stated last month that Griner was able to meet with a U.S. consular official on May 19.
Price stated that Price was pleased with the officer’s performance in spite of these extremely difficult circumstances.
He said, “But again our message is a simple one — We continue to insist on Russia allowing consistent and timely consular acces to all U.S. citizen inmates.” “One-off visits do not suffice. We will continue to demand that Moscow upholds its commitments under Vienna Convention for consistent, timely access.”
The Phoenix Mercury reported Monday that the team and coaching staff met with State Department officials as well as Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D.Texas, Greg Stanton, D.Ariz., during their visit to Washington, D.C.
In a statement released after the meetings, Mercury star Diana Taurasi, a long-time teammate, stated that they are here to “amplify and maintain BG at the forefront”, adding that it was more important than any other basketball game. We want BG home as soon possible. It’s number one in our priority list.
Cherelle Griner stated that she had not spoken to Brittney in the time since Brittney’s arrest. However, she did exchange a few letters.
She told “Good Morning America” that “every single day matters for my health, for my alertness, for mine to be attentive, and for her to come back” in May.
This report was contributed by Tanya Stukalova, Natalia Shumskaia, Shannon Crawford and Natalia Shumskaia from ABC News.
