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WNBA star Britney Griner’s drug trial in Russia awaits her fate after pleading guilty to cannabis possession after cannabis-derived oil was found in her bag at a Moscow airport in February On Thursday, he entered closing arguments.
Russian prosecutors have asked the court to sentence Griner to 9.5 years in prison. The defense then began its argument. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.
Griner was arrested in February ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but her arrest and detention did not become apparent until early March.
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The US State Department has since classified Griner as “wrongfully detained.” During the trial, Griner admitted that she had the canister with her, but did not intend to break the law. It alleges that it ended up in her luggage.
One of her lawyers in Russia, Maria Blagovorina, alleged that Griner used marijuana for medical purposes. But Russian officials say U.S. cannabis laws are irrelevant to Russia.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed last week that the Biden administration had offered a “substantial proposal” for the return of basketball player and fellow American Paul Whelan.
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Brinken said at a press conference that he hoped the Biden administration would make the offer weeks ago and speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the first time since February 15.
Russian media have speculated that the deal may have been with Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as “The Merchant of Death”. terrorist organization.
White House spokeswoman Carine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday that Russia had responded “viciously” to Washington’s offer. She didn’t elaborate.
Russian authorities have clarified that prisoner exchanges will not take place until convictions and sentences have been handed down.
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Russia allowed Griner’s detention until late December.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.