Griner pleads guilty at her drug trial in Russia (Video)

(8 Jul 2022) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4387607 ++PLEASE NOTE: AP IS OPERATING IN RUSSIA ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN RESTRICTIONS ON ALL REPORTING RELATED TO THE ONGOING MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Moscow - 7 July 2022 1.  US diplomats entering court building HEADLINE: WNBA Star Griner pleads guilty at drug trial in Russia 2. US basketball Brittney Griner walking in court corridor escorted by policemen ANNOTATION: WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug possession charges at her trial in a Russian court. She faces up to 10 years in prison. 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Aleksandr Boikov, lawyer for Brittney Griner: Boikov: "She said that it was unintentionally brought to Russia, because she was in a hurry as she was packing." 4. Russian flag on building 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Blagovolina, lawyer for Brittney Griner: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++ "Considering her personality and that she's a role model to many young people, she does think she should be responsible for her actions." 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Rood, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy in Moscow: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++ "I was able to speak with Ms Griner in the courtroom. She said that she is eating well. She's able to read books, and under the circumstances, she is doing well. ASSOCIATED PRESS Moscow - 27 June 2022 7. Brittney Griner walking in court corridor escorted by policemen ASSOCIATED PRESS Moscow - 7 July 2022 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Rood, Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy in Moscow: "I would like again to emphasize the commitment of the United States government at the very highest levels to bring home safely Ms Griner, and all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained." ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 7 July 2022 9. SOUNDBITE (English) William Pomeranz, Wilson Center, Russian law expert: "So by pleading guilty, there is a better chance of leniency. And hovering over this is the potential for a prisoner swap." ASSOCIATED PRESS San Diego- 7 July 2022 10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Whelan, brother of Paul Whelan, US citizen imprisoned in Russia: "So people who didn't know about Paul's case have become aware of it. And so I think that that's a positive. Even if Brittney Griner were to come back first, there would still be all these people who are aware of this injustice that's going on. And I think that that's a good thing for Americans to be aware about the issue." STORYLINE: American basketball star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty Thursday to drug possession charges on the second day of her trial in a Russian court in a case that could see her sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. The abrupt guilty plea by the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist came amid a growing chorus of calls for Washington to do more to secure her freedom nearly five months after her arrest in February amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. A senior Russian diplomat said earlier that no action could be taken by Moscow on Griner's case until the trial was over, and her guilty plea could be an effort by her and her advisers to expedite the court proceedings. Griner, 31, was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport while returning to play basketball in Russia, and police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Speaking through an interpreter, Griner told the court she had no intention of committing a crime and had acted unintentionally because she had packed for Moscow in a hurry. The trial was then adjourned until July 14. Blagovolina said they hope for leniency from the court. Subscribe for more Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPress Website: https://apnews.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP Facebook: https://facebook.com/APNews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/40c13cd7d8b74eb6bff186f137b2d00f