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TASS said the Khimkinsky court of the Moscow region ruled to
detain the 31-year-old Griner, who was arrested last month, for
at least two more months. Griner plays in Russia during the
WNBA's winter off-season.
Her detention comes at a time of high tension between the United
States and Russia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"This continues to be a complex situation that is extremely
difficult for Brittney, her family, and all who are hoping for a
swift resolution," the WNBA said in a statement. "Our number one
priority remains her safe return."
"In close collaboration with U.S. government agencies, elected
officials, individuals and organizations with expertise in these
matters, and Brittney Griner's representatives and family, we
continue to work diligently to get her safely home to the United
States."
The U.S. State Department said it is working on the case and is
in contact with Griner's legal team. Officials are working on
gaining consular access to all U.S. citizens detained in Russia,
including those in pre-trial detention, a State Department
spokesperson said.
"We have repeatedly asked for consular access to these detainees
and have consistently been denied access," the spokesperson told
Reuters.
"Russia must abide by its legal obligations and allow us to
provide consular services for U.S. citizens detained in Russia."
LEGAL MATTER
Representatives for Griner referred Reuters to a previous
statement indicating they would not comment on the specifics of
an ongoing legal matter.
Griner won Olympic gold medals with the U.S. national teams in
2016 and 2021 and is a seven-times All-Star. She plays centre
for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA regular season is set to start
on May 6 this year.
A source close to the situation said that Thursday's hearing was
solely in regard to Griner's legal team challenging her
detention, with an aim toward transferring her to house arrest.
The denial of that appeal was not unexpected, the person said.
The investigation is ongoing and after its conclusion a trial
date is expected to be set. The source confirmed that Griner has
seen her Russian legal team numerous times since she was
detained.
TASS reported that Griner was sharing a cell with two other
women with no previous convictions. It reported her only issue
was that the prison beds were too short for her 6'7" frame.
The Russian Customs Service said this month that a player was
detained in February after arriving at Moscow's Sheremetyevo
airport on a flight from New York.
TASS identified the player as Griner, citing a source.
A scan of the player's luggage revealed cartridges containing
"liquid with hashish oil", and a criminal case has been opened
carrying a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison, the
customs service said.
It was not clear exactly when Griner was detained but it was
announced after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The invasion has dramatically worsened relations between
Washington and Moscow, and U.S. President Joe Biden this week
called Russian leader Vladimir Putin a war criminal.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation"
designed not to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbour's
military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous
nationalists.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that the
Biden administration had assigned an embassy team to work on
Griner's case.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru and Amy Tennery in New
York; Editing by Toby Davis, Ken Ferris, Christian Radnedge, Ed
Osmond and Kenneth Maxwell)
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