Brittney Griner, the American basketball star detained in Moscow on allegations of drug smuggling, will stay in custody for at the very least two extra months, Russian media reported Thursday.
“The court docket granted the request of the investigation and prolonged the interval of detention of the US citizen Griner till Might 19,” a Russian court docket spokesperson informed the Kremlin-controlled press company TASS.
The outlet Mash additionally reported the information, sharing a video on Telegram displaying Griner, 31, strolling down a hallway with two guards.
An individual near the matter informed BuzzFeed Information Griner was OK and has been assembly often together with her Russian authorized workforce whereas in detention. The investigation remains to be ongoing, and a trial date has not been set, the individual mentioned.
If the investigation is not full by Might, whether or not she’s going to proceed to be detained pending trial will probably be reassessed then.
A State Division spokesperson informed BuzzFeed Information, “We’re intently engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Brittney Griner’s authorized workforce.”
The arrest of the WNBA star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist was first reported on March 5, however Rep. Colin Allred of Texas, a member of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, has mentioned she was arrested on Feb. 17.
She was detained after customs officers allegedly discovered cartridges of cannabis oil in her baggage at an airport exterior Moscow. She may withstand 10 years in jail.
Griner is a member of the Phoenix Mercury however had been enjoying within the low season for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg workforce.
TASS quoted Ekaterina Kalugina with Moscow’s Public Monitoring Fee, a bunch that observes jail situations, as saying she had met with Griner.
In line with Kalugina, the US consul has not met with Griner, however the State Division spokesperson mentioned it is as a result of the Russians haven’t allowed this.
“We insist the Russian authorities present consular entry to all U.S. residents detained in Russia, together with these in pre-trial detention, as Brittney Griner is,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“We’ve repeatedly requested for consular entry to those detainees and have persistently been denied entry,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Russia should abide by its authorized obligations and permit us to supply consular companies for US residents detained in Russia.”
Kalugina mentioned Griner was calm and had been studying books whereas in detention, however had struggled with the dimensions of the beds as a result of she is nearly 7 toes tall.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has mentioned he’s restricted in what he can say publicly about Griner’s case resulting from privateness issues, however that US officers will present “each attainable help” to any American detained overseas.
Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, has requested for privateness because the household works to carry her house.
It is believed that officers and Griner’s household are being strategically silent with the intention to keep away from making her a high-profile prisoner whom the Russians will need to preserve as a political pawn because the West sanctions the nation over its invasion of Ukraine.
Jason Rezaian, the Washington Put up reporter who was detained in Iran for 18 months, informed CNN he suspected that Griner, like him, was being held on trumped-up costs.
“It is probably the most audacious hostage-taking by a state conceivable,” Rezaian mentioned.
