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The American basketball star Brittney Griner testified in a Russian court docket on Wednesday, in a case that has turned her into an unlikely pawn in a diplomatic tussle between Russia and america because the struggle in Ukraine has created the deepest rift between the 2 superpowers for the reason that finish of the Chilly Warfare.
Washington continues to ship weapons to the Ukrainian army and has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, and even the decades-long partnership in outer area seem like ending as Moscow introduced that it will depart the Worldwide Area Station after its present dedication expires on the finish of 2024.
The Russian authorities detained Ms. Griner, 31, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who performs for the Phoenix Mercury, a few week earlier than President Vladimir V. Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine in February. Russia accused her of getting two vape cartridges of cannabis oil in her baggage when she arrived at an airport close to Moscow. Russia didn’t make her detention public till after the invasion started.
Ms. Griner had been touring to Russia to play with a crew in Yekaterinburg, about 900 miles east of Moscow, throughout the W.N.B.A. low season. She was charged with willfully smuggling the vape cartridges, violating Russian legal guidelines prohibiting the importation of narcotics.
She now faces a doable 10-year sentence.
Ms. Griner pleaded responsible this month, saying that she had made a mistake and unintentionally carried a banned substance into Russia as a result of she had packed in a rush. Within the Russian justice system, trials go on even when defendants plead responsible. Ms. Griner’s attorneys have stated they hope her plea would make the court docket extra lenient.
On Wednesday, her protection crew continued to current proof that she had not meant to interrupt the legislation.
They’ve argued that she didn’t intend to smuggle medicine into Russia and that, like many different worldwide athletes, she had used hashish to assist ease ache from accidents. In addition they introduced a medical be aware from Ms. Griner’s physician recommending hashish to assist ease continual ache.
Along with her responsible plea making the decision appear a foregone conclusion, consultants say that her finest hope is that the Biden administration finds a option to swap her for a high-profile Russian who’s being held by america. But the administration is reluctant to create any incentive for the arrest or abduction of People overseas.
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