Brittney Griner's Pre-Trial Detention Extended Through July 2 by Russian Court
Jun 14, 2022
Brittney Griner durante un partido del Mercury de Phoenix contra el Chicago Sky el 13 de octubre del 2021 en Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
WNBA star Brittney Griner's pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended once again through July 2.
According to Russian media outlet TASS (h/t Mark Osborne and Deena Zaru of ABC News), a Russian court extended the detention at "the request of the investigation."
Griner was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow in February for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.
She has been detained for 117 days as of Tuesday, and last month the United States government classified Griner as being "wrongfully detained," per ESPN's T.J. Quinn.
Labeling Griner as wrongfully detained allowed the U.S. government to shift its focus in terms of attempting to take steps to bring Griner home as soon as possible rather than allowing the legal process to play out.
Quinn reported that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has years of international hostage negotiating experience, agreed to work on Griner's case.
Despite the U.S. government's shift in philosophy and reports of a potential prisoner swap with Russia, Griner remains in custody.
The 31-year-old was a collegiate star at Baylor who has played in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury since 2013. She also plays professionally in Russia, which is why she was in the country in February.
As a member of the Mercury, Griner is a seven-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time WNBA champion.
Griner has also starred for the United States national team, winning gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Since the start of the 2022 WNBA season in May, every team in the league has placed a decal of Griner's initials and jersey number on their courts in a show of support.
Brittney Griner's Detention Subject of Meeting Between US State Dept., Mercury
Jun 13, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 8: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Las Vegas Aces during Game Five of the 2021 WNBA Semifinals on October 8, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)
Representatives from the Phoenix Mercury met with U.S. State Department officials Monday to discuss Brittney Griner's ongoing wrongful detention in Russia.
Griner has been in custody for 116 days after being arrested at a Russian airport in February.
The Mercury said they also spoke with Rep. Greg Stanton and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee following their meeting with the state department.
"Number one priority." Diana Taurasi.
Phoenix Mercury met this morning with U.S. Department of State to discuss Brittney Griner's "wrongful detention in Russia" and later talked with Greg Stanton (Arizona) and Shelia Jackson Lee (Texas) of the U.S. Congress. #4TheValleypic.twitter.com/2qcjW1pds0
"There is a lot involved in getting her back home and safe, they're working relentlessly," Mercury star Diana Taurasi said. "We're here to do whatever we can to amplify and keep BG at the forefront, which is more important than any basketball game and anything else that's going on in our lives. We want BG to come home as soon as possible, it's No. 1 on our list."
The Phoenix Mercury players, coaches, staff and WNBPA staff met this morning with members of the United States Department of State to discuss the status of Brittney Griner’s wrongful detention in Russia. pic.twitter.com/A4wzxT4BuZ
News of Griner's arrest first surfaced in March, several weeks after she was initially detained.
As the story was evolving, there were concerns about whether publicizing her arrest and advocating for her release would exacerbate her situation. ESPN's T.J. Quinn and Mechelle Voepel interviewed Tom Firestone, a lawyer and former legal adviser for the U.S. embassy in Moscow who explained the delicate balance at play:
Sometimes cases like this are better off handled in a low-key approach through the criminal justice system. I think the concern is, if it becomes too high-profile, if it becomes political, then the Russian government may dig into their position. It may make it difficult for her to get a good resolution of the case, and she could become a pawn in a bigger political battle.
With little in the way of progress, the public tenor is beginning to change.
In mid-March, a Moscow court ruled Griner would remain in custody until at least May 19. Then her detention was extended again until June 18. In between those developments, the State Department officially classified her as "wrongfully detained," meaning the U.S. would "no longer wait for Griner's case to play out through the Russian legal system and [would] seek to negotiate her return," per Quinn.
Penny Taylor Asks for Brittney Griner's Release at Women's Basketball HOF Induction
Jun 12, 2022
Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury gets advice on the bench from team mate Penny Taylor during the Connecticut Sun V Phoenix Mercury, WNBA regular season game at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. 29th June 2013. Photo Tim Clayton (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Penny Taylor called for the release of her former Phoenix Mercury teammate, Brittney Griner, during her Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech Saturday.
"BG is our family," she said, urging President Joe Biden's administration to get Griner back to the United States. "She's yours too. The entire global sport community needs to come together to insist that she be a priority."
Griner, 31, has been detained in Russia for the past 114 days after Russian officials said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport. She is facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
There are concerns that Griner won't get a fair trial in Russia or won't get a trial at all, period, and that she is being held as a political pawn by President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.
The United States government has classified Griner as being "wrongfully detained."
In May, Russian state media reported that Putin was seeking to free arms trafficker Viktor "Merchant of Death" Bout in a prisoner exchange with the United States for Griner. Bout is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the United States after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles and providing aid to a terrorist organization.
A number of athletes have spoken up on behalf of Griner, including LeBron James:
We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! 🙏🏾 Our voice as athletes is stronger together. @uninterrupted 👑 #WeAreBGpic.twitter.com/2GWV3Ff81p
It has been 114 days since our friend, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia. It is time for her to come home. @WhiteHouse, we are paying attention and we are counting on you. #WeAreBG
Many WNBA players will play overseas during the WNBA offseason as another way to make money. Griner was one of many players overseas in Europe and has played for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014.
Taylor and Griner were teammates on the Mercury between the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons.
Alongside Taylor, longtime announcer Debbie Antonelli; players Alice "Cookie" Barron, Becky Hammon and DeLisha Milton-Jones; and coaches Doug Bruno, Paul Sanderford and Bob Schneider were inducted into the Hall.
Brittney Griner's Sister Shekera Says WNBA Star's Detention Has Been 'Gut-Wrenching'
Jun 10, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Chicago Sky during Game One of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2021 at Footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
Shekera Griner, the sister of WNBA star Brittney Griner, commented Friday on the detention of her sister in Russia.
Shekera called Brittney's detention "gut-wrenching," and called on United States President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the entire administration to "do whatever necessary" in order to bring Brittney home "safely and quickly."
Brittney Griner's sister, Shekera, is breaking her silence to call on @POTUS and the US government to bring the #WNBA superstar home #WeAreBG
Friday marks 113 days since Griner was first wrongfully detained by Russian authorities at an airport in Moscow for allegedly possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil.
Last month, the United States government changed its classification of Griner to "wrongfully detained," opening the door for the U.S. to negotiate Griner's return to the country rather than allowing the Russian legal system to play out.
It was also reported by ESPN's T.J. Quinn that U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson agreed to work on Griner's case after previously working for many years as an international hostage negotiator.
There have been reports regarding the United States considering a prisoner swap with Russia, but nothing has come to pass yet.
Former WNBA star and current University of South Carolina head women's basketball coach Dawn Staley tweeted Friday about bringing Griner home:
#FreeBrittneyGriner 113 days being wrongfully detained in a Russian prison….now is the time to bring @brittneygriner home to us! Now! With each passing day our sister and friend is being missed by loved one. Please God hear our cry to bring her home. #WeAreBGpic.twitter.com/o50ZpLzOYB
Griner, 31, is widely regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time due to her success collegiately, professionally and internationally.
The 6'9" center won a national championship and Player of the Year award at Baylor before playing for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA with whom she has been named an All-Star seven times to go along with two scoring titles, two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and one championship.
Griner also won gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics as part of Team USA.
Since the start of the 2022 WNBA season, teams have placed decals on their courts featuring Griner's initials and jersey numbers.
Celtics Wear 'WE ARE BG' Shirts to Show Support for Brittney Griner During Detainment
Jun 5, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 4: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics looks on during 2022 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 4, 2022 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, and they're using the opportunity to show their support for WNBA veteran Brittney Griner, who has been wrongfully detained by the Russian government for 107 days.
Ahead of Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors, the Celtics wore T-shirts that read, "WE ARE BG," during Saturday's practice and media availability. National Basketball Players Association Vice President Grant Williams told reporters the shirts were a collaboration between the NBPA and WNBPA:
The shirts were super important not only showing our support for our sister that is detained over in Russia, Brittney Griner, we just wanted to show that togetherness and love that we have throughout not only the NBA but the WNBA. She's been a vital part of the WNBA over years past, college, and in the amount of impact she's had on young female athletes, USA and overseas.
We hope to have her back in the U.S. and reunited with her family and do what she loves and bring that love and tenacity she always plays with on the court.
Williams added that the WNBPA sent the T-shirts overnight and that every Celtics player put one on without hesitation as soon as they received them.
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 4, 2022
"As a collective, we wanted to come out and show our support for Brittney Griner," Jaylen Brown added. "She's been over there for an extended amount of time, and we feel like enough is enough."
“She’s been over there for an extended amount of time, and we feel enough is enough.”
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 4, 2022
Jayson Tatum also spoke about his relationship with Griner. He said the two got to know each other while playing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and they became good friends.
"So it's extremely tough seeing what she's going through," Tatum said. "I know everybody sees and feels that, and obviously we're all together in support trying to bring her back to her family and things like that. Yeah, wearing those shirts today in support of her."
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 4, 2022
Griner has been detained since February after Russian officials said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport.
State Department representative Ned Price said in a briefing last month that Griner is "continuing to do as well as could be expected under these exceedingly challenging circumstances":
But again, our message is a clear and simple one—we continue to insist that Russia allow consistent and timely consular access to all U.S. citizen detainees. One-off visits are not sufficient, and we will continue to call on Moscow to uphold its commitments under the Vienna Convention for consistent and timely access as well.
According to ESPN, Griner's lawyers have visited her at least once a week while she has been detained. She is also receiving letters from friends and family in the United States, her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, told CNN.
"While sporadic, written communication from her wife, family, friends and global sport community has been a source of comfort for BG during her wrongful detainment, going without real-time, regular contact with loved ones is inhumane," Colas said.
The Phoenix Mercury selected Griner with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. She has gone on to have a successful career with the franchise, averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 254 games across nine seasons.
The 31-year-old is one of a number of players who compete overseas during the WNBA offseason, and she last took the court for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg in January.
WNBA Star Brittney Griner Able to Receive Emails, Letters During Russian Detainment
Jun 2, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Chicago Sky during Game One of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2021 at Footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
WNBA star Brittney Griner remains detained in Russia, but she is allowed to receive emails and letters and can respond to some through her lawyers, according to Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press.
Fellow WNBA players have sent hundreds of emails to Griner to an account set up by her agent. Once they are vetted by Russian officials, they are printed out and delivered to her in bunches.
The 31-year-old can then write or dictate a response on paper, which her lawyers transfer back to the email.
Griner was detained at the Moscow airport in February after officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. In May, the United States government ruled that she has been "wrongfully detained."
Griner is facing charges of drug smuggling that carry a 10-year maximum sentence. In mid-May, her pre-trial detention was extended by 30 days, having been previously set to end on May 19.
Last week, the WNPBA urged fans to sign a petition to help free Griner:
The @TheWNBPA is urging all to sign the https://t.co/vPbO5fjz7D petition to help free WNBA star Brittney Griner, and is asking all athletes in professional sports to hold their own media blackouts to bring attention to the matter. pic.twitter.com/rKg4CUoVLF
"We just don’t want her to think she’s forgotten," Liberty center Stefanie Dolson said.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Amanda Zahui B. said she sends emails every few weeks to Griner and has gotten responses, while Diana Taurasi said she wrote a handwritten letter to her Phoenix Mercury teammate.
"She jokes in her letters. I don’t know how she does it with what she’s going through. She’s an amazing soul," Zahui B. said. "She brings light in a situation like this. I don’t think a lot of people could manage to do that."
Griner has been one of the league's biggest stars on the court, earning seven All-Star selections in her career. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft out of Baylor and won the WNBA title in 2014 with the Mercury.
Brittney Griner's Wife Cherelle Asks for Joe Biden's Help with WNBA Star's Detainment
May 25, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 12: A close up shot of Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury at practice and media availability during the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 11, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, urged President Joe Biden to become more involved in the efforts to release the Phoenix Mercury star from her detainment in Russia.
"There is one person that can go get her, and that's our president," Griner said during an interview with ABC's Good Morning America (h/t Mechelle Voepel of ESPN) on Wednesday. "He has that power. You know, I'm just like, 'Why are we not using it? Like, urgently, use it.' We're expecting him to use his power to get it done."
International relations with Russia have deteriorated during the country's invasion of Ukraine, which began around the same time as Griner's detainment in late February.
Voepel noted Russian authorities said Griner's luggage at a Moscow airport contained vape cartridges with hashish oil. She could face a 10-year prison sentence, although the Biden administration has declared her as wrongfully detained.
Cherelle Griner also suggested there would be more urgency from the United States government if it was an NBA player being detained instead of a WNBA player.
"We do live in a world that, the bigger the platform, the bigger the urgency," she said.
Former United Nations ambassador Bill Richardson is working on the case. He helped negotiate the release of former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed from Russia in April. U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton (Arizona), Colin Allred (Texas) and Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) have also introduced a resolution calling for Griner's release.
"Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States," the league said in a statement in March, when news of Griner's detainment became public. The league also put decals with her "BG" initials on its courts prior to the start of the 2022 season in early May.
Griner has spent her entire WNBA career with the Mercury after they selected her with the No. 1 pick of the 2013 draft. The seven-time All-Star has helped lead them to two WNBA Finals, helping them win the WNBA title in 2014.
State Department: Brittney Griner Visited by Consular Official for 2nd Time in Week
May 20, 2022
FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner pauses on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sept. 3, 2019, in Phoenix. The Biden administration has determined that Griner is being wrongfully detained in Russia, meaning the United States will more aggressively work to secure her release even as the legal case against her plays out, two U.S. officials said Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
WNBA star Brittney Griner was visited Thursday by a consular official for the second time in a week, the State Department said Friday, according to ESPN.
Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February, is "continuing to do as well as could be expected under these exceedingly challenging circumstances," State Department representative Ned Price said in a briefing.
"But again, our message is a clear and simple one—we continue to insist that Russia allow consistent and timely consular access to all U.S. citizen detainees. One-off visits are not sufficient, and we will continue to call on Moscow to uphold its commitments under the Vienna Convention for consistent and timely access as well."
ESPN reports Griner has been visited by her lawyers at least once a week while detained. The 31-year-old appeared in court earlier this month and had her pretrial detention extended into June, per the Associated Press.
Russian officials detained Griner in February at a Moscow airport after they allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. It happened just before Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, which is ongoing.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in March the United States would provide assistance to any citizen being detained in Russia and that U.S. officials are "doing everything we can" to protect the rights of those detained.
The Biden administration has since reclassified Griner as being "wrongfully detained," meaning it is not waiting for her case to play out in the Russian legal system and will instead negotiate her release.
Griner is one of a number of WNBA stars who play overseas during the offseason. She last played for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg in January.
The Phoenix Mercury selected Griner first overall in the 2013 WNBA draft, and she has gone on to have a successful career, averaging 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 254 games across nine seasons.
Adam Silver Says NBA Working With WNBA on Getting Brittney Griner Released
May 18, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the game against the Chicago Sky during Game One of the 2021 WNBA Finals on October 10, 2021 at Footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday he is working "side by side" with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to bring home Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February 17 because of accusations that she attempted to take vape cartridges with cannabis oil through airport security.
Silver made his remarks to ESPN's Malika Andrews in a brief televised interview before the NBA draft lottery aired:
"We've been in touch with the White House, the State Department, hostage negotiators, at every level of government and also through the private sector as well," Silver said (h/t ESPN News Services). "Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia."
Griner has also played with UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League since 2014 and was attempting to return home.
The State Department said May 3 that Griner is being wrongfully detained and that the "U.S. government will continue to undertake efforts to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner."
Russian state news agency TASS (h/t Jason Hanna and Anna Chernova of CNN) reported Friday that Griner's pretrial detention had been extended by a month. She now can be held until June 18, per TASS's relaying of a Khimki court report.
Per ESPN, a consular official met with Griner last week, and State Department spokesman Ned Price relayed a report:
That consular official came away with the impression that Brittney Griner is doing as well as might be expected under conditions that can only be described as exceedingly difficult. But sporadic contact is not satisfactory. It also may not be consistent with the Vienna Convention to which Russia has subscribed.
Griner is one of the most accomplished basketball players in the sport's history. She's a seven-time WNBA All-Star who has averaged 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over a nine-year pro career.
That's in addition to a pair of Olympic gold medals with Team USA, the 2012 NCAA championship with Baylor and the 2014 WNBA title with the Mercury. She was also named to the WNBA's 25th Anniversary Team last year.
Skylar Diggins-Smith Says Mercury Are Dedicating 2022 Season to Brittney Griner
May 4, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Brittney Griner #42 and Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrate after defeating the Chicago Sky in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Phoenix Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith said her team will be focused on more than just basketball this season.
"We didn't forget about her," she said of teammate Brittney Griner, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "We think about her every day. We love her and we're gonna continue to carry her legacy, her voice and play in her honor until she gets back here with us."
The Mercury aren't the only ones who will be honoring Griner, who remains detained in Russia.
WNBA commissioner Kathy Englebert said the league will keep Griner "at the forefront of what we do" during the season with plans to include a decal with her initials and No. 42 on the home courts of all 12 teams.
T.J. Quinn of ESPN reported Tuesday the United States government changed Griner's designation to someone who has been "wrongfully detained" by the Russian government. That means U.S. officials no longer have to wait for her case to unfold in Russia's legal system and will instead actively work to bring her home.
Griner is scheduled for a May 19 hearing after she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport. While she has not been formally charged, Russian prosecutors claim she was illegally in possession of vape cartridges with hashish oil.
"Brittney has been detained for 75 days and our expectation is that the White House do whatever is necessary to bring her home," Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Quinn also reported that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson is now working on the case. Richardson has worked as an international hostage negotiator in the past.
Griner has been with the Mercury her entire WNBA career since they selected her with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft. The seven-time All-Star figured to be a key part of their championship pursuit this season prior to her detainment.
Phoenix begins its season Friday against the Las Vegas Aces.
