A Russian basketball boss has testified in defence of US star Brittney Griner, who is facing drug possession charges that carry a maximum 10-year jail term.
The Phoenix Mercury player was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow on 17 February as she made her way back to Russia to play for UMMC Yekaterinburg, during the US Women’s National Basketball Association off-season.
Police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
Griner, 31, who has been in custody since then, pleaded guilty last week to charges that could land her a prison sentence of up to a decade.
It was thought the plea could be an effort to expedite the court proceedings.
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Griner’s detention has been authorised until 20 December
On Thursday, she appeared back before a Moscow court where Maxim Ryabkov, the boss of UMMC Yekaterinburg, the Russian club Griner plays for in the American off-season, had apparently testified to her good character.
The report from Reuters was, however, produced in Russia, where the law restricts some coverage, including of Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Ryabkov was said to have told the court of Griner’s “outstanding abilities as a player and personal contribution to strengthening team spirit”.
Team captain Yevgenia Belyakova also testified in her defence at the court in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, where Griner had earlier arrived under guard and in handcuffs.
Maria Blagovolina, Griner’s lawyer, said it was “an extremely emotional day for Brittney” but she had been “touched by the appearance of the club director, head physician and her teammate, who gave an extremely positive description” of her both personally and professionally.
‘No intention to commit a crime’
In Russia, a guilty plea does not mean the trial is automatically over.
Griner’s defence may put forward arguments during the hearing to mitigate punishment, or a verdict could even be announced.
Griner is one of the WNBA’s biggest ever stars, widely considered the best offensive player in the league. She is also a double Olympic gold medallist.
At a plea hearing on 7 July, she said she had no intention of committing a crime and had acted unintentionally because she packed for Moscow in a hurry.
Read more:Who is Brittney Griner?
US President Joe Biden and secretary of state Antony Blinken said they were doing all they could to win the release of Griner and other Americans the US considers “wrongly detained” by Russia, including former marine Paul Whelan.
But a senior Russian diplomat has said no action can be taken by Moscow until the trial is over.
Elizabeth Rood, charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Moscow, and other American officials attended Griner’s trial and were able to speak to her in the courtroom.
A spokesperson said: “She is doing as well as can be expected in these difficult circumstances.”
Russian media has speculated Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed the Merchant of Death, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the US after being convicted of conspiracy to kill US citizens and proing aid to a terrorist organisation.
However, a Kremlin spokesman said on Thursday “We never comment on prisoner exchanges.”
Griner’s detention has been authorised until 20 December.
