WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia prolonged to Might 19

A courtroom close to Moscow has prolonged the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner till Might 19, in accordance with the Russian state information company Tass.

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport on February 17 after Russian authorities stated a search of her baggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from hashish, which might carry a most penalty of 10 years in jail.

The case of the 31-year-old Griner, one of the vital recognizable gamers in girls’s basketball, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The courtroom granted the request of the investigation and prolonged the interval of detention of the U.S. citizen Griner till Might 19,” the courtroom stated, in accordance with Tass.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow didn’t instantly return calls from The Related Press searching for remark.

The U.S. State Division has been “doing every part we will to help Brittney Griner to help her household, and to work with them to do every part we will, to see that she is handled appropriately and to hunt her launch,” spokesman Ned Worth stated Tuesday at a briefing. He cited privateness issues in not giving out extra particulars.

Ekaterina Kalugina of the regional Public Monitoring Fee, a state-backed panel in Russia that screens prisoners’ situations, advised Tass that Griner was sharing a cell with two different feminine detainees accused of narcotics offenses.

Griner’s cellmates spoke English and have been serving to her to speak with workers on the pre-trial detention facility and to acquire books, Kalugina stated.

“The one goal downside has turned out to be the basketball participant’s peak,” Tass quoted Kalugina as saying of the 6-foot-9 Griner. “The beds within the cell are clearly meant for an individual of lesser peak.”

Griner has gained two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a nationwide championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star. The WNBA season opens Might 6.

She was certainly one of a dozen WNBA gamers who performed in Russia or Ukraine this previous season. All besides Griner have left since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Griner has performed in Russia for the final seven years within the winter, incomes over $1 million per season — greater than quadruple her WNBA wage. She final performed for her Russian staff UMMC Ekaterinburg on Jan. 29 earlier than the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments. She was arrested in Moscow upon returning to Russia.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined a rising contingent of household, pals and officers calling for her launch with a “Free Brittney” tweet Wednesday.

It is unclear how a lot progress was being made within the case as a result of Griner’s group has been attempting to work quietly for her launch and declining to speak publicly since her arrest was made public earlier this month.

Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, thanked everybody for his or her help but in addition has stated little else on social media.

“Everybody’s getting the technique of say much less and push extra privately behind the scenes,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert advised the AP on Wednesday. “It is the technique you get from the State Division and administration. It is our No. 1 precedence in speaking together with her agent and strategists.”