Russian court sets July 1 start date for Brittney Griner's criminal trial
While her Phoenix Mercury teammates continue their 2022 season and approach the All-Star Game , two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Star Brittney Griner is still being held in custody by the Russian government. Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow-area airport while entering the country after Russian prosecutors said she illegally brought vape cartridges containing hashish oil.
In early May however, the U.S. government declared the center to be wrongfully detained.
On Monday, it was reported that Griner's criminal trial will begin at the end of the week.
According to an ESPN report, "fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned."
"On Monday, the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki extended Griner's detention for another six months after she appeared for a preliminary hearing held behind closed doors," the report read.
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