Brittney Griner Says She Has 'No Complaints,' As Drug Trial In Russia Continues
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia on drug charges, said Tuesday (July 26) that she has no complaints and sent a message back home to her wife, Cherelle.
“No, no complaints. Just waiting patiently,” the Phoenix Mercury center told ABC News during a break in the proceedings at a courthouse in the Moscow suburb of Khimki.
Griner arrived in court that morning with photographs of people she identified to the station as "My wife. My two best friends, my teammates." Griner added that she has a message for Cherelle, a recent law school graduate.
"Good luck on the bar exam," the two-time Olympic gold medalist said.
Griner, 31, has been detained in Russia since February after her arrest at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow for allegedly carrying hashish oil vape cartridges in her luggage, which can carry a 10-year prison sentence. She pleaded guilty to drug charges on July 7. But she has said the vape cartridges were in her luggage mistakenly, and she didn’t intend to commit a crime.
The Biden administration has been under pressure to secure her release. During a July 8 press conference, Griner’s family, friends and supporters called on the government to step up its efforts. The speakers included Cherelle, WNBA Players’ Association President Nneka Ogwumike, Rev. Al Sharpton, Seattle Storm star Sue Bird and union leader Terri Jackson.
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State Department spokesperson Ned Price confirmed to ABC News that Griner was "doing OK," and the department has "routinely conveyed those discussions" to her wife.
"I would say that we have made the case of Brittney Griner, we have made the case of Paul Whelan, an absolute priority and we are working actively, quietly, behind the scenes to do everything we can to see that their wrongful detentions come to an end as quickly as possible," Price continued.
According to CNN, Whelan is a former U.S. Marine who has been detained in Russia since 2018 on alleged espionage charges, which he denies. He was not included in the April 2022 prisoner swap that freed fellow American Trevor Reed.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told reporters that Griner's guilty plea will have "no impact" on any of the negotiations to bring her home, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, the United States has classified Griner as “wrongfully detained” by its former Cold War enemy, as renewed tension escalates over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On July 19, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at securing the release of Griner and other Americans detained abroad whom the administration deems wrongfully detained.
