Russian basketball team praises Brittney Griner at the latest hearing | Basketball News

The Russian team of US basketball stars in jail testified to Grinner’s excellent personality and abilities in court, lawyers say.

The director and team captain of the Russian basketball club testified on behalf of the imprisoned U.S. basketball star Britney Greener as two Olympic gold medalists made her. Third appearance In a Russian court on suspicion of drugs.

Defendant lawyer Maria Bragovolina said UMMC Yekaterinburg club boss Maxim Lyabukov testified to Grinner’s excellent personality at a closing Thursday hearing to reporters.

She said Ryabkov told the court Grinner’s “personal contribution to his outstanding ability as a player and strengthening his team spirit.”

“It’s the first time I’ve met a basketball player. Ryabkov also told reporters in the town of Khimki on the outskirts of Moscow, where the trial is taking place.” Our aim is for her to be a club and Russian basketball. It was to show what big role it played in general. “

Last week’s Greener Admit sin To drug possession and smuggling, but she said she wasn’t going to commit a crime.

Women’s Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star Center Detained On February 17, at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, an arc canister containing hemp oil was allegedly found in the luggage.

She returned to Russia to play for the Russian Premier League team UMMC Yekaterinburg before the US season resumed. This is a common practice for players who can earn much higher salaries in foreign leagues than domestic teams.

If convicted, Greener faces up to 10 years in prison.

UMMC Yekaterinburg captain Yevgenia Belyakova also testified Thursday in Grinner’s defense.

“We miss her very much for her energy,” Belyakova told reporters, she added, “I want to wait.” [Griner] I hoped that “at these moments” and “the incident would end.”

Greener’s imprisonment occurred when tensions between Russia and the United States increased. Russia invades Ukraine, And the administration of US President Joe Biden said she was “unjustly detained.” Moscow has denied the political element of the case.

In a proposal that Grinner could be exchanged for Russian citizens imprisoned in the United States, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said last week that the “hype” surrounding her case was useless.

The Biden administration has previously said that Grinner and another American, Michigan’s corporate security executive Paul Weeran, have been working to return from Russia, and their case remains a priority.

Earlier this month, Greener Directly appealed to Biden In the letter, I asked him to do everything with his power to ensure she returned to the United States. “I still have something to do with my freedom and I can help you recover,” she wrote.

“I miss my wife! I want to meet my family! I miss my teammates! Knowing that they are so suffering now kills me. Thank you for anything you can do at this point to take me home. is.”

Meanwhile, Blagovolina said the defense was happy with Thursday’s latest court session.

“It was a very moving day for Britney, who was impressed by the appearance of the club director, doctor and her teammates. He was very positive about our clients, both personally and professionally. I gave an explanation, “she told Reuters.