Brittney Griner testifies in Russian court

KHIMKI, Russia –

American basketball star Brittney Griner testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated solely a fraction of what was mentioned throughout questioning when she was detained at Moscow’s airport in February and that officers instructed her to signal paperwork with out explaining what they mentioned.

In her first testimony within the trial below questioning from the prosecution, Griner additionally mentioned that in addition to the poor translation on the airport, she obtained obtained neither an evidence of her rights nor entry to a lawyer in the course of the preliminary hours of her detention. She mentioned she used a translation app on her telephone to get the fundamental thought of what she was instructed.

Griner has been held since mid-February after police mentioned they discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her baggage. She has pleaded responsible to the costs however says she had no felony intent in bringing them into the nation and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league in the course of the WNBA’s offseason.

Her arrest got here at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington forward of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. The slow-moving trial and Griner’s 5 months of detention have raised sturdy criticism amongst teammates and supporters in the USA, which has formally declared her to be “wrongfully detained” — a designation sharply rejected by Russian officers.

Griner, 31, faces as much as 10 years in jail if convicted. Trials in Russia proceed even after a responsible plea, and there was hypothesis that her admission was a bid to maneuver the authorized course of alongside in hopes of a doable prisoner swap.

At first of Wednesday’s session, Griner’s attorneys requested that she be allowed to testify outdoors the cage that’s normal for defendants in Russian courts, arguing it was too small for the 6-foot-9 (206-centimeter) athlete to testify whereas standing. The decide denied the request however allowed her to talk whereas seated.

Throughout her testimony, the Phoenix Mercury standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist described making a grueling 13-hour flight to Moscow from Arizona whereas recovering from COVID-19. Griner mentioned she nonetheless doesn’t know the way the hashish oil ended up in her baggage however defined she had a health care provider’s advice for utilizing it to handle persistent ache.

She recalled getting pulled apart on the airport on Feb. 17 after inspectors discovered the cartridges.

Together with the interpreter who supplied an incomplete translation, Griner mentioned she obtained neither an evidence of her rights nor entry to a lawyer and was instructed to signal paperwork with out explaining what they mentioned.

After hours of proceedings she didn’t perceive, she was allowed handy over her private belongings to a lawyer earlier than being led away in handcuffs, Griner mentioned. She mentioned she obtained solely a cursory translation of the allegations throughout a Feb. 19 listening to the place a court docket sanctioned her arrest.

Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, instructed reporters after Wednesday’s session that Griner “repeatedly underlined that she had no intention to convey the forbidden substances into Russia.”

The subsequent trial session was set for Aug. 2. Griner’s trial started July 1 within the Moscow suburb of Khimki the place Sheremetyevo Airport is positioned, and it’s unclear how lengthy it would final. The court docket has held 5 earlier periods that had been brief, and her detention has been approved till Dec. 20.

On Tuesday, a Russian neuropsychologist testified about international use of medicinal hashish, which is against the law in Russia. Griner’s protection crew has submitted to the court docket a U.S. physician’s letter recommending she use hashish for ache.

Griner mentioned Wednesday she used medicinal hashish for aid from ache attributable to accidents sustained throughout her profession, including that it’s broadly used within the U.S. as a result of it has fewer adverse results than another painkillers

A Russian International Ministry spokesperson mentioned final week that the legalization of hashish for medical and leisure use in components of the U.S. had no bearing on what occurs in Russia.

Elizabeth Rood, the U.S. Embassy’s cost d’affaires who has been attending the trial, mentioned Griner was feeling properly.

“We’re going to proceed to observe the case of Ms. Griner very intently, in addition to the case of all U.S. residents detained or in jail in Russia,” she mentioned.

A few of Griner’s supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, probably for a prisoner swap. American soccer notable Megan Rapinoe final week mentioned “she’s being held as a political prisoner, clearly.”

Russian media have speculated that Griner could possibly be exchanged for distinguished Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who’s imprisoned in the USA, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, can also determine in an alternate.

U.S. officers haven’t commented on the prospects for such a commerce. Russian officers have mentioned no alternate could possibly be mentioned till the conclusion of the authorized proceedings in opposition to Griner.