'Not On The Merits': Baylor’s Brittney Griner Has Russian Detention Extended
Former Baylor Bears women's basketball superstar Brittney Griner appeared in a Russian court for preliminary hearings on Monday, where it was decided that her trial would begin on July 1.
However, that was not the only news on the day for Griner, who has now also been ordered by the court to remain under Russian custody for the next six months.
Before the hearing, Griner's pretrial detention was set to expire on July 2.
Following the rulings in the hearing, Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, released a statement on Twitter.
“Today’s hearing was administrative in nature and not on the merits,” Colas said. “That said, the fact remains that the U.S. Government has determined that Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained and being used as a political pawn. The negotiation for her immediate release regardless of the legal proceedings should remain a top priority and we expect @POTUS and @VP to do everything in their power, right now, to get a deal done to bring her home.”
Griner was detained by the Russian government on February 17, after allegedly being found to be in possession of cannabis oil vap cartridges at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.
She is now being charged with large-scale transportation of drugs, and if convicted, could spend up to as many as 10 years in a Russian prison.
Griner has now been in custody for over 100 days.
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