Moscow, Russia – KHIMKI During her Russian drug possession trial, American basketball player Brittney Griner testified that an interpreter was only able to clarify a small portion of what was being said during her detention at Moscow’s airport in February “None of it was explained to me.
On the first day of the trial, Griner testified that she was not given an explanation of her rights or a lawyer during the first few hours of her imprisonment, despite the poor translation at the airport. According to her, she communicated with a customs official via a phone translation software.
Since mid-February, Griner has been detained by police who say they found marijuana oil in her luggage. It was discovered that she brought the drugs into the nation with her in haste before returning to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA’s summer. She has pled guilty but maintains that she had no illegal intent in doing so.
The tone of her testimony became emotional at one point when she declared she had always obeyed the rules and never let down her teammates..
“She said, “My profession is my life.” “It took all of my resources, including the time I spent away from my loved ones. For six months of the year, I was away from everyone and in a time zone that was significantly different from my own.
Her detention happened at a time when Moscow and Washington were at odds over Russia’s impending deployment of troops to Ukraine later that month. Critics of the trial and Griner’s five months in prison in the United States have expressed outrage at the slow pace of the proceedings and Griner’s detention “Russian authorities reject the label “wrongfully detained” used by the United States.
If found guilty, Griner, 31, risks a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Many believe that her guilty plea was part of a ploy to expedite the case so that she may be exchanged for another prisoner.
Wednesday’s session began with a request by Griner’s legal team for her to appear outside of a Russian courtroom norm, alleging that the 6-foot-9 (206-centimeter) athlete couldn’t stand while testifying in a cage. In spite of the judge’s denial, she was nevertheless permitted to talk while seated.
While recovering from COVID-19, the former Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist reported flying from Arizona to Moscow in a difficult 13-hour flight. Marijuana oil was found in Griner’s suitcase, although she stated she had a doctor’s recommendation to use it for chronic pain from her sporting injuries. She didn’t know how it got there.
“Griner claimed she still doesn’t know how the cannabis oil wound up in her luggage, adding that she was aware of Russian law prohibiting it and that she had no intention of breaking it.
“Griner said she had no intention of using or possessing any forbidden substance in Russia, adding that she fully comprehended the charges against her.
“‘I assume full responsibility, but I never intended to smuggle or plan to sneak anything into Russia,” she added.
Inspectors discovered the cartridges on Feb. 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, and she recalls being taken aside.
Griner claimed that she was only given a few pieces of paper and an interpreter who could only provide a bare-bones translation of the translator’s words.
“She explained that she was required to sign documents. “Assuming they were discussing the search and cartridges, I can only conclude
“I didn’t know exactly what I was signing,” Griner claimed, because a lady posing as an interpreter just told her where to sign and didn’t “explain the contents.”
She asserted her legal rights “Nobody ever told me what they were reading or why.”
At one point, she took her phone out of her pocket and started using it “As a result, I reached out to my wife’s sports agent and the translation services of her club team in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg.
“Griner indicated that he had never received a detailed explanation of what was going on. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, you might feel like you’re being held against your will, so you might want to get in touch with relatives and your agency and seek for legal assistance.’
Griner claims that after being handcuffed for several hours, she was eventually allowed to hand over her personal items to an attorney. According to her, she was only given a basic translation of the allegations she was facing during the investigation.
During a discussion with a detective, an interpreter struggled to properly understand the accusations leveled at Griner, as well.
“Griner complained that the translations were poor. “His precise words were, “Basically you are guilty,” when he received a stack of papers to interpret to me. I still remember that moment.
Maria Blagovolina, Griner’s attorney, told reporters following the hearing on Wednesday that Griner “Repeatedly emphasized that she had no intention of bringing the prohibited medications into Russia.
Set for Aug. 2 was the second trial session. The trial of Griner began on July 1 in the Moscow district of Khimki, where the airport is located, and it is not certain how long it will last. The court has now had five short hearings, and her detention has been granted until Dec. 20th.
It is prohibited in Russia to use medicinal cannabis, but a Russian neuropsychologist testified about it on Tuesday. Griner’s attorneys have presented the court with a letter from a doctor in the United States urging that she take marijuana to treat her ailment.
According to Griner, who had injuries in the course of her profession, she relied on medicinal cannabis to help her cope with the pain. She went on to say that the drug is popular in the United States because it has less side effects than other medications.
There is no correlation between the legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana in some parts of the United States and what happens in Russia, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry official.
As reported by U.S. Embassy employee Elizabeth Rood, who has been present at the trial, American authorities have been in attendance “and all other American nationals detained or imprisoned in Russia will be closely monitored going forward.”
It’s been suggested by Griner’s defenders that she’s being held hostage in Russia as part of a trade for other political prisoners. As Megan Rapinoe, a US women’s soccer star, put it last week: “”Obviously, she’s a political prisoner.”
According to Russian media, Griner might be swapped for Viktor Bout, a major Russian arms merchant currently serving a jail sentence in the United States, or for Paul Whelan, an American currently serving a prison sentence in Russia for espionage.
Officials from the United States have not commented on the possibility of such a deal. Officials in Russia have stated that no exchange may take place until the legal proceedings against Griner are completed.