Seth Udinski, FISM News
For the past several weeks, FISM News has followed the detainment and trial of WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner, who was charged with the illegal possession of drugs after she was found with cannabis oil in her luggage at the Moscow Airport in February. Griner has since pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting her sentencing in a Russian court.
It has been widely speculated that Griner is largely being used as a high-profile pawn by Russia, as tensions between the U.S. and Russia are at an all-time high due to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday, ESPN ran a report revealing that Russia has fired back at the United States for declaring Griner’s arrest as a “wrongful detention.” Russian officials argue that the U.S. condemnation of Griner’s arrest is disrespectful to the laws of the country.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a statement on Thursday explaining her country’s position.
“If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian, local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York, and Washington,” Zakharova said.
Griner’s sentencing trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday, where she could be facing up to ten years in a Russian prison. No matter how long she gets, it is becoming increasingly clear that she will likely not be coming home any time soon unless the Biden administration agrees to a controversial prisoner swap.
Many experts believe this could be Vladimir Putin’s endgame, holding onto an American prisoner with the celebrity status and notoriety as Griner. The United States currently holds several Russian military personnel in prison; men who would undoubtedly prove effective in Russia’s current war on Ukraine.
It is also becoming clear that the war with Ukraine appears to be the driving force behind the conflict with Griner, as she was arrested in February only days before Russia’s invasion. The increasing tension between the United States and Russia could result in Griner’s detainment being a far lengthier ordeal than would have been the case otherwise.