The detained US basketball star Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling charges during her trial in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday.
Griner’s trial began last week amid a growing chorus of calls for Washington to do more to secure her freedom nearly five months after her arrest.
The athlete was detained in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after vape canisters with cannabis oil were allegedly found in her luggage. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.
According to the Russian state news agency Tass, Griner’s translator told the court she pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had acted unintentionally because she packed in a hurry.
A statement released by Griner’s legal team in Russia said the guilty plea was “her decision”, adding: “Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”
The next hearing of the high-profile case is scheduled for 14 July.
Guardian UK
