Griner, 31, was arrested on February 17 and charged by Russian authorities with hash oil vape cartridges in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. This crime can carry up to 10 years in prison. Seven-time Phoenix Mercury All-Star Griner was returning to Russia at the time, where she plays for UMMC Yekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season.
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Last week, her arrest was extended until May 19 in a court hearing, Russian news agency TASS reported. Last week, a person familiar with the situation told The Post that the court hearing was about an appeal by Griner’s Russian legal team challenging her detention and requesting that she be placed under house arrest while the investigation is pending. Once the investigation is completed, a trial date will be set; if this is not done by May 19, a hearing will be held to consider another extension.
A person familiar with the situation said Griner was fine and met with her legal team several times a week during her month-long detention.
The TASS report quoted Ekaterina Kalugina, who is described as a human rights activist from the Russian Public Monitoring Commission, as saying that US embassy officials did not visit Griner, despite the willingness of Russian officials to “create all conditions” for such a visit.
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This contradicts Rep. Colin Allred (R-Tx), who told The Post last week that US embassy officials were denied access to Griner. Earlier this week, John Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, demanded that “the Russian government comply with international law and basic human decency to provide consular access to all U.S. citizens in Russia, including those in pre-trial detention,” in a meeting with the Ministry foreign affairs of Russia.
Price, a State Department spokesman, said Wednesday that the consul’s first visit is for “an identity check and his or her well-being and well-being.” He said the State Department will continue to push for greater access to Griner and other American citizens detained in Russia.