Russia extends arrest of US basketball star Brittney Griner over drugs charge

A Russian court docket has prolonged the detention of US basketball star Brittney Griner for an additional two months over medicine cost.

The 31-year-old has been held in Moscow since February when customs officers allegedly discovered hashish oil in her baggage. The crime carries a most 10-year jail sentence.

Hillary Clinton had known as for her launch, after re-tweeting a BBC article in regards to the participant’s predicament. However the Moscow court docket introduced on Thursday it was protecting her in custody.

“The court docket granted the request of the investigation and prolonged the interval of detention of the US citizen Griner till Might 19,” the court docket stated, based on Tass.

Arguably the best feminine basketball participant of all time, the double Olympic gold medallist has been known as the “Tom Brady of her sport”.

Ms. Griner went to Russia to play throughout the US league’s low season.

In one of many final public sightings of her, captured on CCTV, the participant is seen strolling by means of safety at a Moscow airport trailing a small, black suitcase.

Ekaterina Kalugina, a member of Public Monitoring Fee, a semi-official physique with entry to Russian prisons, instructed Russian information company TASS Ms Griner was sharing a cell with two different girls with no earlier convictions.

She stated Ms. Griner’s “solely subject” was that the jail beds have been too brief for her tall body.

The US State Division stated in a press release that it’s doing the whole lot it might probably to assist her.

A spokesperson for the State Division instructed the BBC on Thursday that US diplomats are “intently engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Brittney Griner’s authorized workforce”.

“We insist the Russian authorities present consular entry to all US citizen detainees in Russia, together with these in pre-trial detention, as Brittney Griner is.”

The official added that Russia has “constantly” denied entry to Individuals held in Russian jails.

“Russia should abide by its authorized obligations and permit us to supply consular providers for US residents detained in Russia,” they continued.