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Russia to open trial of WNBA star Griner

Staff WritersReuters
WNBA superstar Brittney Griner is set to appear in a Russian court on Friday.
Camera IconWNBA superstar Brittney Griner is set to appear in a Russian court on Friday. Credit: AP

US basketball superstar Brittney Griner goes on trial in Russia on Friday on drug charges that could see her face up to 10 years in jail, in a case that highlights the already fraught relations between Moscow and Washington.

Griner, a seven-time All-Star in the US-based WNBA, was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, unleashing a broader confrontation with the West.

Russian authorities said the 31-year-old was carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil, a substance illegal in the country. She was charged with smuggling a large quantity of drugs, an offence that can carry up to 10 years in jail.

US officials and a score of athletes have called for the release of Griner - or "BG" as she is known in the basketball community. They say she has been wrongfully detained and should be immediately returned to her family in the US.

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Griner's detention also prompted concerns that Moscow could use the two-time Olympic gold medallist to negotiate the release of a high-profile Russian in US custody.

The US government has warned citizens against travelling to Russia in light of the "potential for harassment against US citizens by Russian government security officials".

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The Kremlin has said that Griner violated Russian laws and denied she was being held hostage amid Russia's stand-off with the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week there was "no higher priority" than bringing home Griner and other Americans "illegally detained" abroad.

Griner plays centre for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.

For years, Griner played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA off-season, like several other US players offered lucrative contracts by the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League.

Griner's detention, combined with Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, prompted several foreign players to leave the Russian league.

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