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U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner’s trial on drug expenses resumes in Russia on Tuesday amid intensified diplomatic efforts by Washington to safe her launch by means of a high-profile prisoner trade.
Griner, 31, faces as much as 10 years in a Russian penal colony if convicted of smuggling hashish vape cartridges into the nation. The 2-time Olympic champion advised the courtroom final week she didn’t intend to smuggle medicine into Russia, whereas her protection legal professionals introduced medical doctors’ notes authorizing her to make use of medical marijuana, which is unlawful in Russia.
A courtroom within the city of Khimki north of Moscow resumes hearings Tuesday, one month after the start of the trial.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has breached its personal coverage of secrecy when it floated a proposal to trade Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan, who’s serving a 16-year jail sentence on espionage expenses. A number of studies have advised the swap may embrace convicted Russian arms seller Viktor Bout.
U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov by cellphone for the primary time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, urging him to just accept the prisoner swap. Lavrov known as for “quiet diplomacy with none doubtful media leaks” after the decision.
Bloomberg reported Monday, citing unnamed folks accustomed to discussions, that Russia is searching for to extract a two-for-two prisoner swap.
A possible second Russian prisoner that Moscow officers had floated embrace Vadim Krasikov, who’s serving a life sentence for homicide in Germany, and Vladislav Klyushin, who has been extradited to america from Switzerland on insider-trading expenses.
White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson accused Russia of creating a “dangerous religion” counteroffer that they dismissed as “not severe.”
