WNBA star Brittney Griner’s pre-trial detention in Russia was extended by one month Friday. The 31-year-old American basketball player has been in custody for nearly three months.
Her lawyer, Alexander Boykov, told the Associated Press that the extension is relatively short and could signify that Griner’s case would go to trial soon.
“We did not receive any complaints about the detention conditions from our client,” Boykov added.
The extension was handed down in a brief hearing at a court outside Moscow. Griner appeared handcuffed while wearing a red hoodie, with her face held low.
In February, the two-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the Phoenix Mercury was detained at a Moscow airport. Russian authorities claim there were vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis in her luggage.
She faces drug smuggling charges that could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced it now considers Griner “wrongfully detained.” The change in classification could mean the U.S. government will be more aggressive in securing her release, even while her legal case is ongoing.
The change in classification also places Griner’s case under the responsibility of the State Department’s Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which negotiates for the release of hostages and Americans considered wrongfully detained.
“We do not have a comment on this specific development. As we have stated repeatedly, the Russian system wrongfully detained Ms. Griner,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
“We take our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens seriously, and we will continue to press for fair and transparent treatment for all U.S. citizens when they are subject to legal processes overseas,” Price continued.
“We are closely engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Ms. Griner’s legal team. Diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow attended the hearing on May 13 and were able to speak with Ms. Griner. She is doing as well as can be expected in these circumstances,” added Price.
Meanwhile, the WNBA has continued working for her release without any progress thus far.
“Today’s news on Brittney Griner was not unexpected, and the WNBA continues to work with the U.S. government to get BG home safely and as soon as possible,” the league said.
Russian officials have stated that Griner’s case is about a criminal offense without any political relation. However, relations between the U.S. and Russia have reached their highest tension point since the Cold War due to the Ukrainian conflict.
Despite this tension, Russia and the U.S. did carry out one prisoner exchange last month. Former Marine Trevor Reed was released in exchange for the release of Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot.
Yaroshenko was serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States.
Griner’s supporters hope the Russians may consider another such exchange for her release.
The Russian state news agency TASS published a story Friday saying the U.S. and Russia had negotiations to discuss the possible exchange of Griner for a Russian man being held in the U.S. for financing terrorism. However, American government officials told ESPN to be skeptical of the reporting, saying it was likely a tactic to pressure the U.S. government.
The officials added that the report further validates why Griner was reclassified as being wrongfully detained, as it indicates that Russia’s justice system is transactional.
“Timing is one of the most important factors I look for; it’s one of the clearest ways we can glean intentions in a negotiation,” said Dani Gilbert. “The fact that they would make that statement at the same time doesn’t seem like coincidence. It’s consistent with how these negotiations have typically gone.”
Gilbert is an assistant professor of military and strategic studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy and an expert in state-sponsored hostage-taking.
“Today’s news is a sobering reminder that international detention cases are long, winding, frustrating ordeals — rarely straightforward. We honestly don’t know if this is good or bad news. It could mean buying time to work out a swift deal for her release, or it could mean more complications put on the table,” added Gilbert.
Aside from Griner, another American regarded as wrongfully detained in Russia is Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan. Whelan was arrested in Russia in December 2018 while visiting for a friend’s wedding and was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage-related charges that his family has said are fraudulent.
