Brittney Griner was back in court on Tuesday. She is currently facing drug charges in Russia after being detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Phoenix Mercury center is nearing 160 days in custody with her lawyers hoping to conclude trial soon. On Tuesday, Griner’s counsel argued that the use of cannabis by Griner was strictly for medicinal use.
Per ESPN, Alexander Boykov, Griner’s lawyer, let reporters know that Griner’s counsel wanted to establish the means and use of cannabis in the United States.
“We are not arguing that Brittney took it here as a medicine,” stated Boykov. “We are still saying that she involuntarily brought it here because she was in a rush. The Russian public has to know, and the Russian court in the first place has to know, that it was not used for recreational purposes in the United States. It was prescribed by a doctor.”
Griner is at the center of national attention following her wrongful detainment. The WNBA along with the NBA are actively taking strides to establish the “We Are BG” tagline wherever possible. Griner’s situation made it’s way to President Joe Biden’s desk, who’s showing extreme efforts in returning Griner home.
Griner’s Russian teammates and coaches are on the frontlines for the 31-year-old center as well. UMMC Ekaterinburg teammate Evgeniya Belyakova and general manager Maxim Ryabkov spoke on Griner’s good character earlier in July.
Many prominent sports figures are arguing that the eight-time All-Star is being wrongfully detained in Russia. However, the very sentiment is receiving harsh responses from Russian officials.
Even so, that isn’t stopping athletes such as Megan Rapinoe from stating that Griner is being held as a “political prisoner” during the ESPY’s.
Controversially, there have been rumblings that Griner could be freed in a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. This adds to the notion that the two-time gold medal Olympian is being wrongfully detained.
Griner’s hearing on Tuesday only lasted 90 minutes. All signs point to the Baylor standout being in good spirits. AN ABC news producer captured Griner holding up a good luck message to her wife, Cherelle Griner, who’s taking the bar exam.
However, trial will resume on Wednesday.
