The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist was arrested on February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and charged her with smuggling significant quantities of the drug, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The hearing comes as many in the WNBA, along with other athletes, coaches and politicians, have called for Greener’s release amid concerns that she is being used as a political pawn amid the war in Ukraine. The US State Department has classified Greener as wrongfully detained. Griner also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden saying she feared she would be detained in Russia indefinitely and asked the president not to forget about her or other American detainees.
“I realize you’re dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do whatever you can to bring us home,” Griner wrote. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.’
It’s unclear whether Thursday’s hearing will result in a verdict or if the trial could lead to additional hearings. Griner pleaded guilty at the last hearing, but told the court that she had no intention of committing a crime, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court could compel the defense to expand further on its intent or could move to convict her, U.S. officials said.
Griner’s lawyers expect the court to take the 31-year-old athlete’s confession into account and hope for leniency, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina told journalists last week.
The samples taken from Griner showed no traces of drugs, Boykov also said. She was clean and tested,” the lawyer said.
Griner’s legal team said the decision to plead guilty was hers, adding that she “sets an example of courage.”
“She has decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows she is a role model for many people,” they said in a statement.
“Given the nature of her case, the minor amount of BG’s content and personality, and history of positive contributions to world and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the charge will be viewed by the court as mitigating and will not result in a harsh sentence.” “
Her lawyers said they expect the trial to end in early August.
CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Rosa Flores, Jacqueline Rose, Alexa Miranda, Abby Philip, Dakin Andone and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.
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