Former NBA star Dennis Rodman plans to travel to Russia to help negotiate the release of WNBA champion Brittney Griner, NBC News reported. Griner remains wrongfully detained, according to the U.S. government, and was sentenced earlier this month to nine years in prison on alleged drug charges. Her team has already appealed while U.S. and Russian diplomats discuss potential prison exchanges. There is no clarity where or who Rodman “got permission” from to work on the case. “That girl” he… Source link
Read More »Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia reportedly extended by 6 months
Two things happened at Brittney Griner‘s preliminary hearing in Russia on Monday: A Moscow court set the start date for her trial for Friday and extended Griner’s detention by six more months, according to the Associated Press. This is the fourth time Griner’s pre-trial detention was moved after already being extended to Saturday before her court date was set. Now, she’ll be detained throughout the course of the trial. The Phoenix Mercury star was arrested at a Moscow airport on Feb. 17 for… Source link
Read More »Brittney Griner’s wife said American embassy ruined phone call
Brittney Griner tried to call her wife Cherelle Griner 11 times on Saturday through the American embassy in Russia, but the embassy wasn’t properly staffed, Cherelle Griner told The Associated Press on Monday. Cherelle and Brittney haven’t spoken in more than four months since Brittney was arrested in Russia. The two were set to talk over the phone Saturday to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Yet Brittney never called, at least that’s what Cherelle initially thought. On Monday,… Source link
Read More »Russia extends Brittney Griner’s pre-trial detention
More than 100 days after her arrest at a Moscow airport, Brittney Griner still doesn’t have a trial date. A Russian court extended the WNBA star’s pre-trial detention for a third time on Tuesday, this time until at least July 2, according to a Russian state media agency. The delays are officially to grant prosecutors more time to gather evidence even though the investigation in this case appears relatively straightforward. The only witnesses seem to be Griner and the airport customs… Source link
Read More »Brittney Griner’s detention extended for 18 days in Russia
Brittney Griner’s pretrial detention was extended by 18 days on Tuesday, which will keep her in Russian custody until at least July 2, a state news agency said via The New York Times. This marks the third time the Phoenix Mercury star’s pretrial detention was extended by a Moscow court, something that is reportedly typical in Russia. This latest extension was granted at the request of investigators, per the report. Griner was arrested Feb. 17 after officials claimed they found vape… Source link
Read More »Russia’s price for Brittney Griner’s release may be notorious arms trafficker
For the first time since Brittney Griner’s arrest almost three months ago, Russia appears to have publicly signaled its asking price for her safe return, if multiple reports by Russian state media are to be believed. Russia is looking to exchange the WNBA star in a prisoner swap for notorious convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, several state-owned Russian news outlets reported Friday, citing unnamed government sources. Bout, whose exploits earned him the nickname the “Merchant of… Source link
Read More »War complicates Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia
In April 2019, yoga instructor Naama Issachar was arrested as she tried to board a connecting flight in Moscow on her way home to Israel. Russian authorities said they searched Issachar’s luggage and found about 10 grams of marijuana. What elsewhere in the world might have drawn a slap on the wrist in Russia resulted in drug-trafficking charges and a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Russia then reportedly dangled Issachar as a bargaining chip, offering to make a prisoner swap or to… Source link
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