This is the first stage of his journey before Russian justice. Brittney Griner, the American basketball player detained in Russia, pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs. “I wish to plead guilty to all charges. (…) But I did not intend to violate Russian law, “said the player in a court in Khimki, a suburb of Moscow, Thursday, July 7.

This affair is part of a context of tensions linked to the conflict in Ukraine, many observers suspect Russia of using this case for future exchange of prisoners with the United States. Before the start of the second trial hearing on Thursday, Russian diplomacy had denounced the “public hype” of American leaders around his case, believing that it “parasites” the case. “What can help (…) is the consideration by the American side of the signals it receives from Russia,” underlined the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Ryabkov.

On Wednesday, the White House had assured that releasing Brittney Griner was a “priority” for the American president, who read a poignant letter from the sportswoman and spoke with his wife. Before this, the highest authorities in Washington had said Russia was “unfairly” detaining the star.

The Phoenix Mercury player was arrested on February 17 on her arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in possession, according to the prosecution, of vaporizers and a cannabis-based liquid. “I was in a hurry while packing and the cartridges accidentally ended up in my bag,” the player said on Thursday.

Brittney Griner: Ten years in jail is possible

Brittney Griner, who faces up to ten years in prison, arrived Thursday at the hearing handcuffed and escorted by several officers, wearing a red T-shirt and sweatpants. Given Russian case law in similar cases, this 31-year-old woman can expect a heavy sentence, to be served in a Russian penal colony. Detained in a Russian prison, the basketball player wrote a letter to Joe Biden symbolically deposited at the White House on Monday, the day of the Independence Day of the United States, imploring the president not to “forget” her.

Thursday, July 7, the star of the United States women’s football team Megan Rapinoe, decorated with the “Medal of Freedom” by Joe Biden at the White House in the company of a dozen other personalities, paid a silent tribute. to the basketball player: she wore a white trouser suit with an embroidered flower and the initials “BG” on the lapel.

While observers are already anticipating an upcoming prisoner exchange between Griner and a Russian detained in the United States, Mr. Ryabkov has asked to wait until the end of the trial. “It is clear that all legal proceedings are not over with us. As long as it is not done, we cannot talk about the rest, ”said the diplomat.

Elizabeth Rood, deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Moscow, said after the hearing that Brittney Griner spoke with the basketball player in the courtroom and passed her a letter from President Joe Biden.

Brittney Griner will be questioned by the court at the next hearing on July 14.