Griner’s arrest was wrongful, the legal team says
After being stopped by officials at Sheremetyevo International Airport on February 17 and asked to open her bags, Griner’s luggage was found to contain less than one gram of cannabis oil, according to Russian prosecutors.
There was no lawyer, Griner testified, and she said her rights were not explained to her, which under Russian law had to happen within three hours. Those rights will include her right to know what she is suspected of and to have access to a lawyer from the moment she is detained – including the ability to have a face-to-face meeting before her first questioning by authorities.
Griner signed documents that were unclear to her, she said, and she had to use Google Translate on her phone to try to understand what was going on.
Griner’s detention, search and arrest were “improper,” Alexander Boykov, one of her lawyers, said Wednesday. More details will be revealed, he said, during closing arguments, which are expected to take place “in a few weeks.”
She testified that she did not know the oil was in her purse
The two-time Olympic gold medalist was aware of Russian drug laws, she testified, and the cannabis oil was in her luggage due to “stress packing” in the rush.
“To this day, I don’t understand how they ended up in my bags,” Griner said.
Griner “confirmed that she had a prescription for the use of medical cannabis,” which “is quite a popular treatment among professional athletes. She emphasized that she never planned to bring it to Russia and use it,” lawyer Maria Blagovolina told reporters after the hearing.
A knee injury forced her into a wheelchair for four months, Griner told the court, and she used the substance for inflamed knee and ankle joints. She also emphasized that she did not use it before tournaments to prevent possible disqualifications.
“No, I would never risk that. I never wanted to hurt my team,” Griner said. She has been drug tested, her attorneys previously said, and is clean.
Griner “explained to the court that she knew and respected Russian laws and never intended to violate them,” Blagovolina said. Griner also told the court that she enjoys playing basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason and that her club, UMMC Yekaterinburg, has become a second home for her, Blagovolina said.
“We continue to argue that she recklessly, in a hurry, packed her suitcase and did not pay attention to the fact that substances authorized for use in the United States got into that suitcase and arrived in the Russian Federation,” Boykov said. .
A prisoner swap is being offered, US officials say
Amid Griner’s detention and trial, months of internal debate by the Biden administration culminated in a U.S. offer to swap Griner and Whelan — whose Russian conviction has been condemned by the U.S. as unfair — for convicted arms dealer Victor Bout, people briefed on the question to CNN. The plan won the support of President Joe Biden and prevailed over opposition from the Justice Department, which typically does not condone the trafficking of prisoners, according to the sources. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Biden was “directly involved” and signed off on the proposal” presented to Moscow, but he declined to provide further details or confirm that Booth was part of the proposal. Blinken said he also intended to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the coming days — their first conversation since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, when asked about the offer on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “There is no agreement on this so far.”
“Look, since there are no agreements to be finalized now, I have nothing more to add to what has been said,” Peskov said.
Griner’s lawyers, Blagovolina and Boykov, learned of the possible exchange through news reports, they said. Although they were not involved in those discussions, the two said they would be happy with any productive results.
“From a legal point of view, an exchange is only possible after the court has issued a verdict. In any case, we will be really happy if Britney is able to come home and we hope that it will happen soon,” they said.
Griner is due back in Khimki District Court on August 2.
‘Really good chance’ of release, says freed American
Since word of the proposed exchange became public, officials say the families have been kept informed of certain developments, and supporters have expressed hope that the deal will be accepted by Russia.
National Security Council communications coordinator John Kirby said a senior administration official spoke with the families before Blinken’s announcement of the proposal. Biden recently spoke by phone with Greener’s wife, Cheryl, and Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth.
David Whalen, Paul’s brother, said in a statement: “Our family appreciates the Biden administration seeking Paul’s release using the resources at its disposal. We hope the Russian government will respond to the US government and accept this or another concession that allows Paul to come home to his family.”
Trevor Reed, a Marine Corps veteran who returned to the U.S. in a prisoner exchange earlier this year after being held in Russia for more than two years, told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he believes Greener and Whelan “have really good chance” of going home, “especially given the transparency that the administration is using in this.”
“I think if the Russians are not stupid, they will accept this offer,” Reid said.
Congressman Colin Allred of Texas, who is working to pass a bipartisan House resolution calling for Griner’s release, said it was extremely important to hear Griner’s testimony and that she had done everything possible to appear in court , but that may not be enough depending on how the Russian government reacts.
“The only reason we’re having this conversation is because they’re trying to use it for leverage against the United States,” Allred told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “Clearly we have to do whatever it takes to bring her home and I hope this package is accepted by the Russians.”
Chris Liakos, Dakin Andone, Zahra Ula, Abby Philip, Kaitlan Collins, Evan Perez, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Michael Conte, Christian Sierra, DJ Judd, Shona Mizell, AnnClaire Stapleton and Bryn Wirbowski contributed to this report from CNN.
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