Latest Brittney Griner trial updates: Anger as WNBA star is brought to justice in a ‘little cage’ as Russia denies she is a hostage

Basketball star Brittney Griner – who appeared in court in Moscow this week – was only playing in Russia because of the low salaries paid to female athletes in the United States, which friends and colleagues say makes it difficult to earn a living.

Brittney Griner had a spot in the WNBA All-Star Game, having been named an honorary starter last week by commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

“In every season of Brittney’s career that there was an All-Star Game, she was selected as an All-Star,” Engelbert said. “It’s not hard to imagine that if BG were there with us this season, she would be selected again and would no doubt show off her incredible talents. So it’s only fitting that she’s named the honorary starter today and we continue to work for his safe return to the United States.

Brittney Griner isn’t the only athlete to have had a recent confrontation with Russian authorities.

Russian Olympian ice hockey goalie Ivan Fedotov, who recently signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, has been detained in Russia and charged with dodging the country’s military draft, according to local media.

Officials met Fedotov as he was leaving an ice rink in St. Petersburg and “invited him to go to the military registration and enlistment office”, according to a report by the Russian online newspaper. fontanka.

Fedotov played last season with CSKA Moscow – nicknamed the Red Army team – and won a league championship. He then wanted to leave Russia and play in the United States, signing with the Flyers in May.

Earlier this year, he played for the Russian Olympic Committee team, winning a silver medal at the Beijing Winter Games.

In a statement to InitiatedChuck Fletcher, president of hockey for the Philadelphia Flyers, said: “We are aware of the reports and are investigating the situation.”

He added: “We have no further comment at this time.”

Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that Ms Griner was being prosecuted under Russian law after she was found with cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage, and gave no indication of the Olympic basketball star’s release. ball.

Bevan Hurley has the story:

Dozens of organizations have signed a letter calling on President Joe Biden to reach a deal to release Brittney Griner, the basketball star who has been detained in Russia for more than three months.

In the letter, also addressed to Vice President Kamala Harris, Ms Griner’s allies wrote that the star “continues to suffer inhumane treatment, deprived of contact with her family” and called on the administration to increase its urgency to this subject and to “reach an agreement”. to bring Brittney home to America immediately and safely.

Brittney Griner, an American basketball star, appeared in Russian court on Friday, four months after she was arrested for possession of cannabis at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport while traveling to play for a Russian team.

Griner was arrested in February, just a week before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Police said she was carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. The Phoenix Mercury star and two-time US Olympic gold medalist could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale drug trafficking.

WNBA star Brittney Griner, 31, has been detained in Russia since February after drugs were allegedly found in her luggage by officials at a Moscow airport.

His arrest came shortly before Russia launched its war in Ukraine, with geopolitical tensions no doubt making it more difficult to secure his release.

Ms Griner’s family, friends and fans – as well as many public figures – have been asking Russia for months to release her and the US State Department to intervene.

According to the Russians, Mr. Griner packed hash oil in his bag, probably in the form of a vape.

It was this discovery that led to his five-month detention in Russia. On Friday, Ms Griner appeared in a Russian court for the first time and was charged with smuggling less than a gram of hash oil inside her luggage. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

Today wasn’t WNBA star Brittney Griner’s first day of court. She appeared in a Russian court on Monday, also handcuffed and flanked by officers for a preliminary hearing ahead of her trial.

Reporting by Johanna Chisholm.