A lawyer for American basketball star Brittney Griner has said the athlete is 'quite nervous' as the end of her drug smuggling trial looms.
Griner has been detained in Russia since February, when custom agents at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow claimed they had found cannabis vape cartridges in her bags.
She faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges and is currently in the midst of her trial, which her lawyers previously estimated would end with a sentencing sometime in August.
Advert
Maria Blagovolina, the Russian attorney representing Griner, told CNN this week the 31-year-old is 'of course stressed and quite nervous'.
"She knows that the end of the trial is approaching," Blagovolina continued, adding: "She really appreciates all the support she's getting.
"She also said she loves everybody, she misses her family of course, her wife and again she appreciates a lot the huge support she's getting... from the WNBA, the sports community, in the USA, in Russia, worldwide, so she's just very very grateful and it just means a lot to her," the lawyer said.
Advert
Blagovolina added that the court has already accepted 'almost all' of the team's evidence, meaning the trial is going 'procedurally' how they planned.
Among those supporting Griner and calling for her release is the Biden administration, which has been trying to strike a deal with Russia to free her.
On 27 July, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the US had 'put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago' to try and facilitate the release of both Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
Advert
Blinken did not comment on what the US would offer Russia in return for the two residents, but a source familiar with the matter told CNN authorities were willing to hand over Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US.
Griner has insisted she did not intend to bring illegal substances into Russia, saying in a statement: "I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me. But I had no intention on breaking any Russian law. I was in a rush packing and the cartridges accidentally ended up in my bags."
The basketball star was travelling to Russia to play for a Russian team during the US off-season, with prosecutors alleging she had purchased two cartridges containing 0.252 grams and 0.45 grams of hash oil prior to her trip for personal use.
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Emily Brown