The update on WNBA star Brittney Griner's isn't a good one. Since her arrest back in February of this year, Griner is still awaiting trail in Russia.
The Russian Federal Customs Services released a statement where Brittney Griner was detained for possession of vape cartridges containing hashish oil. The incident took place on February 17th at the Moscow airport in Russia against Griner for the “large-scale transportation of drugs,” stated by The New York Times.
The WNBA star could carry a jail sentence up to 10 years in Russia, if convicted in this criminal case.
According to The Associated Press , Alexander Boykov, Griner's lawyer, shares that the WNBA star pre-trial detention has been extended for one additional month in Russia .
As the anticipation of her trail continues, the Russian Federal Customs Service released new video footage on May 5th of this year. Griner is seen in the Moscow airport back in February, where security searches through her luggage.
Later, Griner appeared at a court in Moscow on May 13th. She was seen handcuffed, wearing an orange hoodie and holding her head down. There was no comment of “any complaints about the detention conditions,” Boykov said.
This criminal case has sparked the attention of The Biden Administration, where officials agreed that the WNBA star was wrongfully detained.
"We have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. The U.S. government will continue to provide appropriate consular support to Ms. Griner and her family.”
Her basketball team, The Phoenix Mercury, has also released a statement to show their support to their teammate of thirteen years.
"We love and support Brittney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health and her safe return home."
Unfortunately, the WNBA season already started on May 6 without Griner, but her absence was missed. According to NBC News, The league honored her with floor decals of her initials BG and her number 42 on all 12 arena courts for the new 2022 season.
The WNBA season runs from late spring to early fall with a total of 36 games, which everyone hope will give Griner enough time to come home.
Gayes, will this trial end well?