Brittney Griner, a renowned player for the US basketball team, admitted guilt to a drug allegation in a Russian court on Thursday but said she had not done it on purpose.
Days after pleading with US President Joe Biden to obtain her release, Brittney Griner spoke at the second hearing of her trial on the drug allegation that may result in a 10-year jail sentence.
“Please accept my guilty plea, your honor. But no intention was present. I wanted to avoid breaking the law, “Griner claimed, speaking softly in English that was later translated for the court into Russian.
Brittney Griner Was Caught Carrying Drugs
The following court appearance was set for July 14. According to Griner’s attorney Alexander Boykov, they were seeking the least harsh punishment imaginable. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was taken into jail in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after being found in possession of vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is prohibited in Russia.
She requested last week that the US attempts to bring her home to be stepped up in a handwritten message addressed to Vice President Biden. According to the White House, Biden called Griner’s wife on Wednesday and assured her that he was trying to have her released “as quickly as possible.”
Brittney Griner, often known as “BG” to basketball fans, has been unlawfully jailed, according to US officials and other players, and they have asked for her release.
Concerns about Moscow using her case as a negotiating chip to secure the release of a prominent Russian national held by the US have also been raised concerning her case.
Despite Moscow’s tense relations with Washington over Moscow’s military action in Ukraine, Russian authorities said there is no reason to believe that Griner’s imprisonment is unconstitutional and that the case against her is not political.
