Griner — who has been held in Russia since her arrest at a Moscow airport on allegations of tried drug smuggling — attended the preliminary listening to in individual Monday, arriving at courtroom handcuffed and flanked by guards in black vests, in line with a photograph by AFP photographer Kirill Kudryavstev.
Her lawyer, Alexander Boykov, beforehand informed CNN the listening to would happen behind closed doorways on the Khimki courtroom, simply outdoors Moscow.
Griner, 31, a Phoenix Mercury participant who performs in Russia through the WNBA’s offseason, was arrested February 17. Russian authorities claimed she had hashish oil in her baggage and accused her of smuggling important quantities of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by as much as 10 years in jail.
Griner’s detention, which has been repeatedly prolonged, has sparked a wave of assist amongst dozens of organizations within the US which have joined Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner’s spouse, in urging President Joe Biden to strike an alternate cope with Russian authorities to launch Griner and convey her residence safely as quickly as doable.
Griner’s supporters have expressed concern that she could be used as a political pawn, given rising tensions amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. READ: Dozens of organizations signal letter calling on President Biden to strike deal for Brittney Griner’s launch
More than 40 organizations — together with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, the National Urban League and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association — signed a letter to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for motion to get Griner launched.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Cherelle Griner one-on-one final Wednesday, in line with a senior State Department official. And US nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday he and Blinken spoke with Cherelle “in the previous few days … to convey that we simply cannot even start to think about what the household should be going by means of” and what “Brittney should be going by means of.”
Cherelle Griner stated final week she hasn’t talked to her spouse since February 17.
“I’ve acquired no greater precedence than ensuring that Americans who’re being illegally detained in a method or one other all over the world come residence,” Sec. Blinken informed CNN’s “State of the Union” on the Group of seven summit Sunday.
“That contains Paul Whelan, that features Brittney Griner, that features individuals in plenty of different nations,” he added. Whelan is a US citizen who was detained in Moscow in 2018 and arrested on espionage costs. He has denied the fees.
“I can not remark in any element on what we’re doing, besides to say that is an absolute precedence,” Blinken stated.
While Griner’s trial has been scheduled, that ought to not stop US officers from attempting to barter her launch, her agent stated on Twitter, calling Monday’s listening to “administrative in nature and never on the deserves.”
“The negotiation for her instant launch whatever the authorized proceedings ought to stay a high precedence,” Lindsay Kagawa Colas wrote, “and we anticipate @POTUS and @VP to do all the things of their energy, proper now, to get a deal accomplished to deliver her residence.”
The US Embassy in Moscow will ship a US diplomat to Brittney Griner’s listening to on Friday, a US official informed CNN.
A State Department spokesperson reiterated that the Griner is “wrongfully detained,” and stated that assist for her and her household will proceed. “The US authorities will proceed to offer acceptable assist to Ms. Griner and her household. We will proceed to press for her launch.”
Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star Game starter final week, with the All-Star Game scheduled to happen on July 10 in Chicago.
Griner’s detention overseas remains to be “powerful on our staff,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard informed reporters earlier than the staff’s sport Monday towards the Indiana Fever.
She expressed hope Griner will return residence quickly and that President Joe Biden will “take the steps to make sure that she comes residence.”
CNN’s Kylie Atwood and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.