Brittney Griner

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia on drug charges since traveling to the country in February.

"I'm not going to characterize it," Blinken said. Blinken added: "There is utility in sending clear, direct messages to the Russians on key priorities for us. She has been detained on drug charges for carrying vape cartridges containing marijuana while traveling to the country on Feb. 17. Her detention in Russia, regardless of a verdict, has been authorized until Dec. 20. Whelan has been in custody since 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges the U.S. disputes. A prisoner swap freed former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed from a Russian penal colony in April.

Griner said Wednesday that her rights were not read to her when she was arrested at a Moscow airport.

Why it matters: The Fed's tightening of monetary policy, the most rapid in decades, is intended to bring down inflation. She added that she was "rushed packing and stressed packing... - "I had no intention to break the law." Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, who until recently was detained in a Russian prison, said that the White House is "not doing enough" to bring home WNBA star Brittney Griner and American businessman Paul Whelan. Trevor Reed accuses White House of "not doing enough" to bring Brittney Griner home Trevor Reed accuses White House of "not doing enough" to bring Brittney Griner home

Griner testified on Wednesday that a language interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during her initial questioning.

The U.S. has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony ...

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After months of internal debate, the Biden administration has offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US ...

We start all of these with somebody who has taken a human being American and treated them as a bargaining chip," the official said. Biden officials had been concerned the decision to swap Reed for Yaroshenko would be criticized by Republicans. Instead, it won bipartisan praise, including from a handful of Republicans who are normally sharp critics of the administration. The US government has long resisted prisoner swaps, claiming concerns that they only incentivize countries to detain Americans so they can be used as bargaining chips. They said it was in Russia's "court to be responsive to it, yet at the same time that does not leave us passive, as we continue to communicate the offer at very senior levels." These sources told CNN that the plan to trade Bout for Whelan and Griner received the backing of President Joe Biden after being under discussion since earlier this year. We start all negotiations to bring home Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained with a bad actor on the other side.

KHIMKI, Russia -- American basketball star Brittney Griner testified at her drug trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was ...

After hours of proceedings she did not understand, she was allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs, Griner said. U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. She said she used a translation app on her phone to get the basic idea of what she was told. The judge denied the request but allowed her to speak while seated. Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. Griner has been held since mid-February after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

The Phoenix Mercury star faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges Wednesday, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. She said she was prescribed the cannabis oil by a doctor, adding that many athletes used it. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. In any case, we will be glad if Brittney is soon at home and we hope that this will happen.” … I was in a huge hurry.” She was also recovering from covid-19 and needed to get tested before flying, she said, adding to the stress. They have hinted that Russia may consider a prisoner swap, but only after her trial is complete. Speaking to the court through an interpreter, she said that her rights were not read to her when she was taken into custody, which is required under Russian law. We asked the court to satisfy our motion because of her psychological state,” Blagovolina said. The judge gave Griner permission to give her testimony while sitting after she said that her neck hurt. In Russia, carrying even small amounts of the substance is illegal. Officials told her to sign documents but did not explain what they were or the consequences of signing them. The comments from Blinken will intensify speculation about a possible prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “ Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.

The offer also seeks return of US executive Paul Whelan and is a reversal of previous US policy resisting such deals.

The Biden administration has been hounded with political pressure to bring home Griner and other Americans designated as unjustly detained. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. Blinken said he had requested a call with the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. US officials said the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the US on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov.

Moscow is reportedly interested in trading Brittney Griner for Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout.

She also said she received neither an explanation of her rights nor access to a lawyer in the initial hours of her detention, and that she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate. The arms dealer, dubbed the merchant of death, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US on charges he attempted to sell weapons to a Colombian rebel group to kill Americans. The Biden administration has made a "substantial offer" to bring two American detainees home from Russia, the US secretary of state has said.

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Michigan businessman Paul ...

The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged Whelan, a former Marine, was caught in an act of espionage with a USB drive that contained classified information. He said guards threatened, abused and harassed him. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. The U.S. government has denounced the charges as false. He and his family have vigorously asserted his innocence. Blinken said he had requested a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. American officials said the the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov.

CNN reported Wednesday that the U.S. has offered a prisoner exchange in order to bring the WNBA player and Paul Whelan home. Biden reportedly backs such a ...

See the growing speaker list and buy tickets. As part of the deal, Russia would release Griner and Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker imprisoned in the U.S., CNN reported. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Griner’s detention has been further complicated by U.S. efforts to support Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s continued invasion. Whelan has been held in Russia for espionage since 2018. A doctor had prescribed the cannabis oil to her for pain and inflammation from career-related injuries.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration has offered a "substantial proposal" for the return of WNBA star Brittney ...

"I can tell you that it's topmost in the president's mind, as is the fate of Americans who are unjustly detained around the world, not just in Russia," National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said following Blinken's announcement. The U.S. State Department has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained." And I'll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope move toward a resolution." "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," he continued. I plan to raise an issue that's a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who've been wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home," Blinken said Wednesday. Griner pleaded guilty to a drug-smuggling charge earlier this month, adding that her "intent" was not to violate Russian law.

The seven-time All-Star was detained in Russia on Feb. 17 for allegedly carrying a marijuana concentrate in her luggage.

The visit comes after the U.S. embassy in Moscow "repeatedly asked" to speak with Griner immediately after detainment but was "consistently and improperly" denied access. "She has only had one Thanksgiving in the States in nine years since she's been pro, and she misses all that stuff. In 2020, the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a new eight-year CBA that would raise the average salary to nearly $130,000, its first time above six figures. Cherelle Griner spoke about the situation in a "Good Morning America" interview on May 25 and said the two haven't verbally communicated in over 100 days, as her wife's phone was taken away shortly after she entered police custody. According to a June 2 report from the AP, Griner has received hundreds of emails and letters from players around the league. It was the second visit in a week, and Price wants even more access to Griner. With Griner's new designation, the U.S. government can immediately work to negotiate her return as opposed to waiting until her trial in Russia concludes. According to CBS News, less than 1 percent of defendants are acquitted in Russian criminal cases, and since acquittals can be overturned in the country, the chances of Griner staying out of prison with a not guilty plea were slim. She recounted the day of her arrest and said the interpreter did not provide a full translation, explaining she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate with a customs officer. According to the Russian news agency TASS, Griner said in court she understood the charges but declined to immediately comment on them. A day before Griner testified reportedly said the legalization of cannabis in the U.S. has no impact on Russia laws.,her defense team focused their angle on how cannabis has a medicinal use. I was very happy to see her, and I hope this trial will be over soon and with a positive outcome."

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, ...

That stance made Wednesday's announcement all the more startling, but Kirby said the administration had decided to make clear that a deal was on the table. The State Department said later that Russia's diplomacy was "Kabuki Theater'' -- all show and no substance. During her testimony, Griner said she still does not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her luggage but explained she had a doctor's recommendation for using it to address chronic pain from her sports injuries. The two last met in person in Geneva, Switzerland, in January to discuss what was then Russia's massive military buildup along Ukraine's border and Russian demands for NATO to reduce its presence in eastern Europe and permanently deny Ukraine membership. The U.S. government has long resisted prisoner swaps out of concern that it could encourage additional hostage-taking and promote false equivalency between a wrongfully detained American and a foreign national regarded as justly convicted. Their last publicly recognized contact was Feb. 22, when Blinken wrote to Lavrov to cancel a meeting they had planned as a last-ditch effort to avert the Russian invasion, saying Moscow had shown no interest in serious diplomacy on the matter. "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," Blinken said. "There is utility to conveying clear, direct messages to the Russians on key priorities for us,'' including the release of Griner and Whelan, Blinken said. Russia has for years expressed interest in the release of Bout, a Russian arms dealer once labeled the "Merchant of Death,'' who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on charges that he schemed to illegally sell millions of dollars in weapons. Should a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov take place, it would be the first conversation that he and Blinken have held since Feb. 15, about a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. U.S. officials said the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested a new call with Lavrov. Griner, in Russian custody for the past five months after authorities there said they found her in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage, testified at her trial Wednesday that she had no criminal intent in bringing them into the country and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA's offseason. Though it is unclear if the proposal will be enough for Russia to release the Americans, the public acknowledgment of the offer at a time when the U.S. has otherwise shunned Russia reflects the mounting pressure on the administration over Griner and Whelan and its determination to get them home.

The latest images of Brittney Griner in Russia show the Phoenix Mercury and WNBA star wearing a "Phoenix Basketball" WNBA sweatshirt.

She emphasized that cannabis oil is widely used in the United States for medicinal purposes and has less negative effects than some other painkillers. - After hours of proceedings she did not understand, she was allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs. It is unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20. The "Phoenix" on her sweatshirt also reminded me that she is, in fact, one of ours. When I was reading about Griner's testimony and her situation in Russia Wednesday morning and the five months she has spent incarcerated there, another word came to mind: "compassion." The latest images of Brittney Griner in Russia show the Phoenix Mercury and WNBA star wearing a "Phoenix Basketball" WNBA sweatshirt.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said he would speak to his Russian counterpart for the first time in months about a “substantial proposal” to free the ...

Ms. Griner’s Russian legal defense team said it had learned about the American offer from the news and that it had not been participating in the discussions. The senior official said that the White House contacted Elizabeth Whelan, Mr. Whelan’s sister, about the proposal, and that she received it very positively. But the United States did make a trade with Moscow in April, sending home a convicted Russian drug smuggler in exchange for Mr. Reed, who was arrested on charges of assaulting two police officers. The State Department has classified him and Ms. Griner as “wrongfully detained” and has referred their cases to a special hostage affairs office. “She emphasized that she never planned to bring it to Russia and use it.” In an interview last month, however, the judge who sentenced Mr. Bout, Shira A. Scheindlin, said that Mr. Bout “was not a terrorist, in my opinion. In 2010, Mr. Bout agreed to sell arms to undercover U.S. federal agents who said they belonged to Colombia’s FARC rebel group, which the United States classified at the time as a terrorist organization. A lawyer came to help after 16 hours of detention, he said. She said she was told to sign papers with no explanation of what they were. Speaking at the State Department, Mr. Blinken said he expected to talk with Sergey V. Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, in the coming days and would urge him to accept the proposal. The notion of trading Ms. Griner for Mr. Bout surfaced in Russian news media several weeks ago. Some analysts believe that Mr. Bout enjoys loyalty from former criminal associates with continued influence at the Kremlin.

The Biden administration has offered Russia a deal aimed at bringing home Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken ...

Others had argued that the incentive to kidnap Americans is already significant and the only sensible solution is to cut a deal to bring Griner and Whelan home. It would seem that a deal is not imminent if Blinken hasn't even had the conversation with Lavrov yet. But her testimony Wednesday was the first time she was critical of her treatment. But all along, the real timeline anyone has been concerned about is when the two countries can reach a deal that brings her home. Sources have said that Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has been negotiating Griner's release, had hoped he could travel to Russia by now to try to wrap up a potential deal. In recent weeks, Russia has been critical of U.S. accusations that Griner was wrongfully detained, saying the U.S. needs to butt out and let Griner's trial run its course. She said she broke the law inadvertently. A few hours after Griner's court appearance, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States had made a "substantial proposition" weeks ago to secure the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, another American whom the government considers to be a wrongful detainee. Here's what we know and what we don't know. Some in the administration had argued that trading someone like Bout would create a dangerous precedent. She'll find out if it had any effect next week: Sources expect a verdict and sentence Aug. 5. First, Griner testified in court, telling the judge that when she was arrested Feb. 17 she was denied proper translation, wasn't read her rights, was denied access to a lawyer and was coerced by her interpreter into signing papers she couldn't understand.

WNBA star Brittney Griner testified at her drug trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during her arrest.

She said she used a translation app on her phone to get the basic idea of what she was told. U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. WNBA star Brittney Griner was urged to play in Russia to help offset pay inequity. After hours of proceedings she did not understand, she was allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs, Griner said. American soccer star Megan Rapinoe last week said “she’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.” The judge denied the request but allowed her to speak while seated. The next trial session was set for Aug. 2. Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17. Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. Griner has been held since mid-February after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. She said she received only a cursory translation of the allegations during a Feb. 19 hearing where a court sanctioned her arrest.

The basketball star is detained in Russia, far from her teammates and loved ones. But there are signs she has held on to her fighting spirit.

Griner’s decision to use photos as a means of expression reveals a deeper message about the uncertainty of her future. A few weeks prior, she was photographed holding another picture of WNBA players wearing her No 42 jersey at this year’s WNBA All-Star game. When American cities were filled with protests in 2020 after the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Griner used her fame to help bring attention to systemic issues that are often faced by marginalized communities.

This week's trial proceedings in Russia over WNBA star Brittney Griner's detention have shed more light on the details of her arrest, including her ...

Griner also told the court she enjoyed playing basketball in Russia during the WNBA's offseason and that her club, UMMC Ekaterinburg, became a second home to her, Blagovolina said. In any case, we would be really happy if Brittney will be able to come home and hope it will be soon," they said. David Whelan, Paul's brother, said in a statement, "Our family appreciates the Biden Administration seeking Paul's release using the resources it has available. She emphasized that she never planned to bring it to Russia and use it," attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters after the hearing. I never wanted to hurt my team," Griner said. No attorney was present, Griner testified, and she said her rights were not explained to her, which, according to Russian law, should have occurred within three hours.

The WNBA star said she had to use a translation app to communicate with a customs officer and was never read her rights.

Griner did have a doctor's prescription, but on Wednesday the seven-time WNBA All-Star said she was well aware that bringing hashish oil to Russia is against the law. There was an interpreter present, but Griner said the woman did not explain the content of the paper work. She was allegedly carrying the marijuana concentrate hashish oil in her luggage.

The Kremlin warned Thursday that a possible prisoner swap with the United States involving Brittney Griner needs to be negotiated quietly without fanfare.

Griner also said that besides the poor translation, she received no explanation of her rights or access to a lawyer during the initial hours of her detention. Griner's five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be "wrongfully detained" -- a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. "We know that such issues are discussed without any such release of information," Peskov told reporters during a conference call. Blinken's comments marked the first time the U.S. government publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure Griner's release. Griner's trial on drug charges started in a court outside Moscow this month, and she testified Wednesday that she didn't know how the cartridges ended up in her bag but that she had a doctor's recommendation to use cannabis to treat career-related pain.

Arms trafficker Viktor Bout reportedly in line for exchange with the WNBA star facing drug charges.

If successful, Whelan and Griner’s prisoner swap would mark the second high-profile exchange between the two adversaries this year. “We talked yesterday on the phone. Whelan has repeatedly denied the charges against him. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. “Now I think a trade is realistic because as far as I understand the Russian side has always been for a trade and in this case, it now appears to be the position of the American side.” Brittney Griner’s defence team have given the prospect of including the WNBA star in a prisoner swap a cautious welcome, as Russia said talks between Moscow and Washington on exchanging prisoners were “ongoing”.

Speculation intensified about a possible prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after Secretary Blinken described a "substantial proposal."

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. Ryabkov hinted that there were avenues for discussions on a prisoner exchange, but he said this could not happen until the end of formal court proceedings. In the April swap for Reed, Biden outlined the hard choices that come with prisoner exchanges. “Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added. “There was a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release,” Blinken told reporters. “He did not call yesterday, and so we do not know what he knows. She is next due to appear in court on Aug. 2 and could face up to 10 years in jail. Whelan, 52, denies the espionage charges against him and says he was framed. Four Russian Kalibr missiles were fired at the port, the Ukrainian military said. Blinken said Wednesday that a proposal was made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Whelan, although he did not specify its terms or whether there had been any response. RIGA, Latvia — Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement has been reached in prisoner release negotiations with the United States, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” was made to Moscow to free two jailed Americans: WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.

The US made a substantial offer to Russia for WNBA star Brittney Griner. The deal is potentially dangerous, some experts say. But it may be necessary.

“At the same time, we know from past experience the only way to bring people home is through these deals," he said. "Is it fair?" “Yeah, you get her or a couple of people out now,” Saale told USA TODAY recently. And he did just that,” Zachariasiewicz wrote in a recent op-ed for USA TODAY. She also noted Russia is unlikely to accept any deal before Griner's trial ends, which her lawyers predict will occur sometime in August. Griner plead guilty "without intent" earlier this month; the two-time Olympic gold medalist testified Wednesday she accidentally packed vape cartridges filled with cannabis. "No, because fair implies a moral equivalence between these individuals that absolutely does not exist." "We know that such issues are discussed without any such release of information," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference call. Any agreement would involve a prisoner swap with Russia or concessions on recent economic sanctions, and CNN reported shortly before Blinken's announcement that the U.S. had offered notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. It was the first public acknowledgement that the highest levels of diplomatic relations were working to bring the WNBA star home. Others believe previous examples of such exchanges demonstrate it's the only way to safely return wrongly detained prisoners. “Be wary.” Publicizing deals to free Americans sets bad precedent and endangers Americans, some say.