Russia may use WNBA star Griner as high profile "hostage" UPD prisoner swap

[LadyStanley]

Former Pentagon official: Russia could use WNBA star Brittney Griner as 'high-profile hostage'

Putin making athletes his pawns.

Click to read more...

 

[LadyStanley]

Brittney Griner’s detention extended until May, Russian news agency says

American basketball star Brittney Griner's detention in Russia has been extended until May, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the Khimki Court of the Moscow Region.

news.yahoo.com

Detention until May.

 

[LadyStanley]

WNBA season opener May 6.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

I mean... I hate to break it to them, but the status of a WNBA star isn't going to really move the needle of public discourse in the United States, for better or worse.

 

[LadyStanley]

Source: Brittney Griner 'OK,' meeting regularly with lawyers in Russian jail

The WNBA star learned she will be held behind bars until at least May 19.

sports.yahoo.com

Legal proceedings moving along. Facing 20 years in prison. US consul has not been allowed to talk with her. But her legal representation has.

 

[Holls Blackmail]

Did she break a law there? I'm not intimate with the details on this.

 

[Albatros]

Up to 10 years if she was in possession of more than 100 grams, otherwise up to 3 years.

 

[LadyStanley]

Did she break a law there? I'm not intimate with the details on this.

Allegedly had drugs in her vaping canisters when she landed in Russian (to play in the WNBA off season).

 

[willy702]

Wasn't this kind of obvious? Maybe she had drugs, but high chance they were planted on her. Dictators love this move.

 

[MadLuke]

Wasn't this kind of obvious? Maybe she had drugs, but high chance they were planted on her. Dictators love this move.

If the article is true, I would imagine they would have used more serious drugs (say a bit of cocaine) and less ostensibly not in line with the accusation, the article says:

Griner was arrested at an airport near Moscow last month after Russian authorities searched her luggage and allegedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil. The Russian Federal Customs Service issued a statement on Saturday that it has opened a criminal investigation into the large-scale transportation of drugs, which in Russia can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Having some vape cartrdiges in your luggage sound personnal consumption and not large-scale transportion of drugs at all (it could be some strange translation or a bad report, I do not know), but it look like overcharging.

 

[Albatros]

If the article is true, I would imagine they would have used more serious drugs (say a bit of cocaine) and less ostensibly not in line with the accusation, the article says:

Griner was arrested at an airport near Moscow last month after Russian authorities searched her luggage and allegedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil. The Russian Federal Customs Service issued a statement on Saturday that it has opened a criminal investigation into the large-scale transportation of drugs, which in Russia can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Having some vape cartrdiges in your luggage sound personnal consumption and not large-scale transportion of drugs at all (it could be some strange translation or a bad report, I do not know), but it look like overcharging.

Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

"1. Illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, making or processing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or analogues thereof on a large scale, as well as illegal acquisition, storage and transportation without the purpose of selling plants containing narcotics or psychotropic substances, or parts thereof containing narcotics or psychotropic substances on a large scale, without the purpose of sale -
Shall be punishable with a fine in an amount of up to 40 thousand roubles, or in the amount of the wage or salary, or any other income of the convicted person for a period of up to three months, or by compulsory works for a term of up to 480 hours, or by corrective labour for a term of up to two years, or by restriction of liberty for a term of up to three years, or by deprivation of liberty for the same term.

2. The same deeds committed on an especially large scale -
Shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of three to 10 years with or without a fine in an amount of up to 500 thousand roubles or in the amount of the wage or salary, or any other income of the convicted person for a period of up to three years."

Large scale would mean more than two grams in the case of hashish.

 

[Holls Blackmail]

Allegedly had drugs in her vaping canisters when she landed in Russian (to play in the WNBA off season).

Thank you.

I'm as anti-Russian as you'll find but is it not at least 50/50 that she possessed the drugs on her own volition?

 

[Cynicaps]

Why do I get the sinking feeling that Russia will extradite her on the condition they recall their NHLers?

 

[LadyStanley]

U.S. basketball player detained by Russia in good condition -State Dept

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Detained American basketball player Brittney Griner was found to be in good condition by a U.S. Embassy official in Moscow who was granted access to her on Wednesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. Griner, an Olympic gold medalist and All-Star player, has been...

news.yahoo.com

US finally allowed consular access.

 

[LadyStanley]

Is Brittney Griner a political hostage in Russia? We may find out soon

A May 19 court hearing could show if the Kremlin thinks Brittney Griner is a valuable political pawn.

sports.yahoo.com

Update. Does not seem to be political pawn, but that could change with a phone call. Hearing scheduled in about a month. Trial may be further delayed or then scheduled.

 

[LadyStanley]

WNBA teams to honor Brittney Griner with floor decal this season

Brittney Griner is still in custody in Russia more than two months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport.

sports.yahoo.com

Hmmmmm. Acts like politics

 

[LadyStanley]

U.S. classifies Brittney Griner as 'wrongfully detained' in Russia

The formal change in designation is a significant development because it means the U.S. government will now actively seek to negotiate the WNBA star's return.

sports.yahoo.com

Now a political pawn

 

[LadyStanley]

'We are BG': Mystics call for Brittney Griner's return in postgame team statement

Brittney Griner was on the minds of WNBA players as they readied to start the 2022 season on Friday.

sports.yahoo.com

WNBA players making statements in support of her return

 

[Albatros]

She should be entitled to a fair trial, but it does not necessarily follow that she should be released.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Capital punishment for drug trafficking - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[NigerianNightmare]

The lady shouldn't have carried drugs on a plane.
She let her WNBA and Russian teams down

 

[LadyStanley]

Brittney Griner's pre-trial detention in Russia extended by a month

Brittney Griner appeared at a hearing in a Russian courtroom on Friday and had her pre-trial detention extended by a month.

sports.yahoo.com

Extended another month.

 

[Kirk Van Houten]

What a horrible situation

 

[LadyStanley]

Reports: Russia wants 'Merchant of Death' in exchange for Brittney Griner

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.

sports.yahoo.com

Becoming political pawn.

Rumored prisoner to swap for is convicted arms dealer sentenced to 25 year term.

 

[LadyStanley]

WNBPA signs on to petition calling for Brittney Griner's 'swift and safe' return from Russia

The petition was started in March, before those involved felt it was safe to make noise about Griner's detention in Russia.

sports.yahoo.com

WNBPA urges resolution