The trial of American women's basketball star Brittney Griner for smuggling drugs opened Friday behind closed doors in Russia, a case with strong political overtones given the extent of Russian-American antagonism.
"
The trial has started
," Polina Vdovtsova, the spokeswoman for the court in Khimki, a town on the outskirts of Moscow, told reporters.
The closed session, with limited media presence in the courtroom, was decided at the "
request of the defense, at the request of Griner herself
", she added.
The Phoenix Mercury player came to Russia in February to play there during the American off-season, a common practice for basketball players who sometimes earn more abroad than at home.
It was upon her arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport that the double Olympic gold medalist with the United States (2016, 2020) was arrested in possession, according to the accusation, of vapers and liquid to cannabis base.
She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Frequent exchanges between Russian and American nationals
The American authorities had initially kept a low profile on his case which was not revealed to the general public until March 5.
Against the backdrop of continued deterioration in Russian-American relations, particularly with the conflict in Ukraine, the highest authorities in Washington then seized on the matter and declared that Russia was "
unfairly
" detaining the 2m03 star, aged 31 years.
His case is in the hands of the United States special envoy for those taken hostages.
In view of Russian case law in similar cases, the young woman should expect a heavy sentence, to be served in a Russian penal colony.
Americans and Russians accuse each other of detaining their respective nationals for political purposes.
Several prisoner exchanges have taken place in the past.
In April, former US Marine Trevor Reed, sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia for violence, was exchanged for a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, imprisoned in the United States since 2010 for drug trafficking.
Other exchanges of this type would be the subject of talks.
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