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WNBA and Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner faces as many as 10 years in Russian prison on the drug charges to which she pleaded guilty last week. File Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI | License Photo
July 14 (UPI) -- WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner's former teammate and the director of her team in Russia testified to her character Thursday during a court hearing in Moscow.
Evgeniya Belyakova, the captain of team UMMC Ekaterinburg, told the court the team misses Griner and "her energy."
"Brittney has always been a good teammate, which is why my role here is to support her and be there for her," said Belyakova, who was also the one-time captain of the Russian national team.
Team director Maksim Ryabkov said Griner played a "big role" in the team and Russian women's basketball in general, according to CNN.
July 14 (UPI) -- WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner's former teammate and the director of her team in Russia testified to her character Thursday during a court hearing in Moscow.
Evgeniya Belyakova, the captain of team UMMC Ekaterinburg, told the court the team misses Griner and "her energy."
"Brittney has always been a good teammate, which is why my role here is to support her and be there for her," said Belyakova, who was also the one-time captain of the Russian national team.
Team director Maksim Ryabkov said Griner played a "big role" in the team and Russian women's basketball in general, according to CNN.
The trial is expected to resume Friday morning, The New York Times reported.
Thursday was Griner's first court appearance after her surprise decision to plead guilty to drug charges last week.
Russian authorities took the Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist into custody in February after they said they found vaping cartridges in her luggage containing less than a gram of hashish oil, which is against the law in Russia.
Thursday was Griner's first court appearance after her surprise decision to plead guilty to drug charges last week.
Russian authorities took the Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist into custody in February after they said they found vaping cartridges in her luggage containing less than a gram of hashish oil, which is against the law in Russia.
After she was detained for weeks and her family appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden to work to secure her release, Griner pleaded guilty to the charges last week, hoping for leniency from the court.
Griner could face as many as 10 years in prison on the charges.
Griner, who has played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the Team USA women's basketball team.
File Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Some U.S. officials have argued that Russia is using the women's basketball star, who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, as a political pawn.
Some U.S. officials have argued that Russia is using the women's basketball star, who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, as a political pawn.
In May, the U.S. State Department reclassified Griner's case as a "wrongful detention" and the White House has not yet said whether it's considering a possible prisoner exchange to secure her release.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would not be pressured into making a deal.
"We urge the U.S. authorities not to exploit this sensitive matter affecting the fates of certain individuals, and we advise them to abandon futile attempts to pressure us," Zakharova said according to The Washington Post.
Griner's lawyers show medical cannabis prescription to Russian court
CBSNews -
WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow courtroom for the second day in a row Friday, and her legal team said it had presented new evidence to help explain why she entered Russia with a cannabis product that led to her arrest.
Her trial resumed Thursday, about a week after Griner entered a guilty plea before the court, which analysts believe may have been her best chance at securing an eventual pardon, or at least leniency, given the Russian court system's near-perfect conviction rate.
Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing Griner, said her legal team had presented evidence Friday including "characterization materials, medical records and tax returns." Among the medical documentation was a doctor's prescription for the substance that Griner has admitted bringing into Russia mistakenly as she packed her bags in a rush.
Friday's was the fourth hearing in the Phoenix Mercury player's trial. She's facing up to 10 years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges. Griner has already spent about five months in custody after being detained at a Moscow airport with what prosecutors say were vape cartridges containing cannabis-derived oil.
WNBA players honor Brittney Griner at All-Star game
Her admission of guilt was seen largely as a bid by her legal team to get a verdict as quickly as possible and prevent the trial from dragging out, as Moscow is unlikely to respond to any attempts by Washington to secure her release until the court process has played out.
© Provided by CBS NewsBrittney Griner back in court after pleading guilty to drug charges 02:59
The Biden administration considers the basketball star "wrongfully detained," and legal experts believe Griner's best chance of walking free is if Russia and the U.S. can agree to a prisoner swap.
As she appeared for Thursday's hearing, Moscow warned the U.S. against exerting any pressure, especially in public, to secure Griner's release.
"We urge the U.S. government not to speculate on such sensitive matters which affect the fates of specific people, and we advise to refrain from futile attempts to pressure us and focus on practical work through established channels," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"Griner's legal proceedings are ongoing, and until they conclude, it is premature to discuss any options of her return home," Zakharova added.
© Provided by CBS News
CBSNews -
WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow courtroom for the second day in a row Friday, and her legal team said it had presented new evidence to help explain why she entered Russia with a cannabis product that led to her arrest.
Griner's lawyers defend possession of vape cartridges with U.S. prescription for medical cannabis
Her trial resumed Thursday, about a week after Griner entered a guilty plea before the court, which analysts believe may have been her best chance at securing an eventual pardon, or at least leniency, given the Russian court system's near-perfect conviction rate.
Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing Griner, said her legal team had presented evidence Friday including "characterization materials, medical records and tax returns." Among the medical documentation was a doctor's prescription for the substance that Griner has admitted bringing into Russia mistakenly as she packed her bags in a rush.
Friday's was the fourth hearing in the Phoenix Mercury player's trial. She's facing up to 10 years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges. Griner has already spent about five months in custody after being detained at a Moscow airport with what prosecutors say were vape cartridges containing cannabis-derived oil.
WNBA players honor Brittney Griner at All-Star game
Her admission of guilt was seen largely as a bid by her legal team to get a verdict as quickly as possible and prevent the trial from dragging out, as Moscow is unlikely to respond to any attempts by Washington to secure her release until the court process has played out.
© Provided by CBS NewsBrittney Griner back in court after pleading guilty to drug charges 02:59
The Biden administration considers the basketball star "wrongfully detained," and legal experts believe Griner's best chance of walking free is if Russia and the U.S. can agree to a prisoner swap.
As she appeared for Thursday's hearing, Moscow warned the U.S. against exerting any pressure, especially in public, to secure Griner's release.
"We urge the U.S. government not to speculate on such sensitive matters which affect the fates of specific people, and we advise to refrain from futile attempts to pressure us and focus on practical work through established channels," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"Griner's legal proceedings are ongoing, and until they conclude, it is premature to discuss any options of her return home," Zakharova added.
© Provided by CBS News
WNBA star Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russia 02:51
Russian media have speculated that the Kremlin will seek to exchange Griner for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death," who has been in U.S. custody since 2008. Another name floated by Russian officials is that of Roman Seleznev, who's serving a 27-year prison sentence in the U.S. on cyber fraud charges.
At the Thursday hearing, the court heard witnesses for the defense who testified to Griner's character. Maxim Ryabkov, the head of the Russian basketball club UMMC Ekaterinburg, where Griner plays during the U.S. off-season, said he had never "seen or heard" Griner using drugs in the seven years he's worked with her.
The captain of the team, Evgenia Belyakova, testified in the hearing that Griner is a "responsible person," and said she believes it would have been impossible for Griner to use drugs and perform on the team given their demanding game schedule.
On Friday, the judge scheduled the next hearing for July 26. The defense had asked for a week to meet with Griner to help her prepare to give testimony.
Russian media have speculated that the Kremlin will seek to exchange Griner for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death," who has been in U.S. custody since 2008. Another name floated by Russian officials is that of Roman Seleznev, who's serving a 27-year prison sentence in the U.S. on cyber fraud charges.
At the Thursday hearing, the court heard witnesses for the defense who testified to Griner's character. Maxim Ryabkov, the head of the Russian basketball club UMMC Ekaterinburg, where Griner plays during the U.S. off-season, said he had never "seen or heard" Griner using drugs in the seven years he's worked with her.
The captain of the team, Evgenia Belyakova, testified in the hearing that Griner is a "responsible person," and said she believes it would have been impossible for Griner to use drugs and perform on the team given their demanding game schedule.
On Friday, the judge scheduled the next hearing for July 26. The defense had asked for a week to meet with Griner to help her prepare to give testimony.
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