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Brittney Griner's detention in Russia extended through at least July 2.

WNBA Star Brittney Griner’s Prosecution Near Moscow Sparks Focus on ‘Hostage Diplomacy’ — and the Case of a Russian Arms Trafficker​


U.S. WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner sits inside a defendants’ cage with a picture depicting her WNBA fellow players wearing jerseys with her number, 42, during the leagues All-Star Game, during a hearing at the Khimki Court in the town of Khimki outside Moscow on July 15, 2022. Listen to the full episode on Apple, Spotify or wherever else you get your podcasts, and subscribe. Shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Griner found herself detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, where customs officials said they found vape cartridges with trace amounts of hashish oil. The timing of her arrest and detention raised eyebrows because Russia would enter Ukrainian territory and launch their attacks roughly a week later.

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President Biden declared 'a national emergency' to help free wrongful detainees. A legal analyst says the move 'won't help' Brittney Griner.​


  • President Biden issued an executive order to help free American hostages and wrongful detainees.
  • The move "won't help" WNBA star Brittney Griner, legal analysts and hostage negotiators say.
  • "As far as Brittney Griner goes, it doesn't affect her at all," one analyst told Insider.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday "to bolster efforts to bring home American hostages and wrongful detainees," even declaring a "national emergency" to address the growing threat. But when it comes to the most famous American currently held captive overseas, sources tell Insider the Biden administration's move is unlikely to have a significant impact. "As far as Brittney Griner goes, it doesn't affect her at all," Aron Solomon, chief legal analyst for Esquire Digital, told Insider. The 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury center has been held in Russian jail, where she has limited communication with friends and loved ones, ever since.

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Brittney Griner timeline: What has happened since the WNBA star was detained​


More than five months have passed since Brittney Griner attempted to enter Russia and instead wound up facing drug charges that could keep her imprisoned for years. The two-time Olympic gold medal winner and eight-time WNBA All-Star is being "wrongful detained," according to the United States government by Russia on charges of bringing vape cartridges filled with hashish oil in her luggage while returning to play for her professional team there. Griner remained in pre-trial detention for more than three months prior to this month's trial. She could remain imprisoned until Dec. 20 if no verdict is reached. Her lawyers have said they expect a decision in August, however.

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Devaluation Of Black Women’s Lives And Labor Almost Disappeared Brittney Griner​


For over five months, Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia, where she’ll remain indefinitely following her guilty plea in court on July 7th. Imprisoned in one of the most represented and exploitative prison systems in the world and standing trial for drug trafficking accusations in a country with disproportionately punitive and discriminatory drug policies against marginalized populations, Griner faces an uncertain future which is largely a consequence of the negligence and inaction of the U.S. government. For nearly a decade, starting in 2014 at 23, Griner has been among dozens of players who migrate overseas to Asia and Europe after the WNBA summer season ends. For nearly a decade, starting in 2014 at 23, Griner has been among dozens of players who migrate overseas to Asia and Europe after the WNBA summer season ends. These migrations preceded the establishment of the WNBA and show no signs of stopping because of the limited career and salary progression and training opportunities for women basketball players in the U.S. This is understood across the world of sport, which is why Griner played center for UMMC Ekaterinburg, and just as she does at home, she won abroad, often playing in front of sold out crowds.

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As US works to bring Brittney Griner home, a Texas mother has been missing her son for 10 years​


In Washington, D.C., this week, lawmakers are working to try and get wrongfully detained Americans out of foreign countries. President Joe Biden signed an executive ory to sanction criminals, terrorists and government officials who hold Americans captive abroad, and the U.S. Senate approved a resolution calling for Brittney Griner's release. The WNBA star has been a Russian prisoner for 155 days on marijuana charges. While her case has been very high profile, there's another case involving a Texas businessman that most have never heard about. Mark Swidan has been held in a Chinese prison for almost 10 years. His mother fears that she won't live long enough to see her son come home.
In the small town of Luling, Texas, a mother's love never wavers. Inside her tiny apartment, Katherine Swidan lives surrounded by memories of happier times with her youngest son, Mark.

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Russian expert at Brittney Griner's trial discusses medical cannabis​

The drug trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner in a Russian court focused Tuesday on testimony that cannabis, while illegal in Russia, is regarded in other countries as having legitimate medicinal use.

Griner acknowledged in court earlier this month that she was carrying vape canisters containing cannabis oil when she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport. But she contends she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage inadvertently because of hasty packing. “The Russian public has to know, and the Russian court in the first place has to know, that it was not used for recreational purposes in the United States. It was prescribed by a doctor,” Boykov said. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said last week that the legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in parts of the U.S. had no bearing on what happens in Russia.

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Brittney Griner shares message to wife as WNBA star's drug trial in Russia resumes​

Griner, who has been detained since Feb. 17, is set to testify on Wednesday

As Brittney Griner returned to court in Russia on Tuesday for her drawn-out trial on drug charges, the American basketball star told ABC News she has a message for her wife, Cherelle, who recently graduated from law school. "Good luck on the bar exam," Griner said. Griner briefly spoke to ABC News during a break in Tuesday's proceedings at a courthouse in the Moscow suburb of Khimki. When asked whether she has any complaints, she said: "No, no complaints. Just waiting patiently. "She arrived in court that morning holding up two photographs in a clear, plastic sleeve. When asked during the break who was in the photos, she told ABC News: "My wife. My two best friends, my teammates."

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In rare contact, US offers Russia deal for Griner, Whelan​


The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken also said he expects to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine. The statement marked the first time the U.S. government has publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of Griner, who was arrested on drug-related charges at a Moscow airport in February and testified Wednesday at her trial. Blinken did not offer details on the proposed deal, which was offered weeks ago, though it is unclear if it will be enough for Russia to release the Americans. But 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.

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Brittney Griner Testifies She Was Aware Of Travel Warning, But Wanted To Help Her Team​


Brittney Griner says she was aware the U.S. government warned Americans traveling to Russia was dangerous ... but the WNBA star told a court in Moscow she decided to get on the airplane because she wanted to help her basketball team. Griner's drug trial continued in Russia on Wednesday, and the 31-year-old hooper testified to the reason she returned to Moscow in February despite the travel advisory. "It's the most important part of the season, after the break. It's playoffs. The whole season I worked, my team worked hard to get to a good position," Griner said, continuing, "There was nothing that was going to change that for me. I didn't want to let my team down. I did know about the 'do not fly' advisory, but like I said, there was nothing that was going to change my mind on coming back and finishing my duty for my team."

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U.S. offers deal to Russia for release of WNBA star Brittney Griner: What we know and don't know​


For months, both Brittney Griner and the U.S. State Department have been carefully measured in everything they said about her detainment in Russia on drug charges. And then came Wednesday. 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. Her testimony marked a notable shift from her "keep your head down and don't make waves" strategy. She'll find out if it had any effect next week: Sources expect a verdict and sentence Aug. 5. A few hours after Griner's court appearance, U.S. Secretary of State Attorney 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. Blinken wasn't specific, but as he started his briefing, CNN reported that the United States had offered to trade Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer who is doing a 25-year sentence in the United States, and Blinken passed up a chance to deny the story.

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A Timeline of Brittney Griner's Detainment in Russia​


It's been a long road for Brittney Griner.The WNBA star, 31, was detained in Russia on Feb. 17, 2022, for allegedly possessing cannabis oil in her luggage after arriving in Moscow from New York City. She is currently on trial and faces five to 10 years in prison. However, need broke on July 27 that the Biden administration had offered a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of both Griner and American prisoner Paul Whelan, with sources telling CNN that they had offered to return Viktor Bout, a Russian prisoner in the United States serving 25 years for arms trafficking.

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