{"id":3441,"date":"2022-05-13T08:56:18","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T12:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firstandpen.com\/staging\/5861\/?p=3441"},"modified":"2022-05-13T09:15:13","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T13:15:13","slug":"russia-denies-us-claim-that-brittney-griners-detention-is-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firstandpen.com\/staging\/5861\/russia-denies-us-claim-that-brittney-griners-detention-is-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia Denies US Claim That Brittney Griner’s Detention Is Illegal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Russia clapped back at the U.S. over the latter’s claim that Brittney Griner’s<\/a> detainment was “illegal.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A statement was issued to CNN yesterday stating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She [Griner] was caught red-handed while trying to smuggle hash oil. In Russia, this is a crime. In accordance with paragraph ‘c’ of part 2 of Article 229.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (drug smuggling), she faces a prison term of up to 10 years.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Griner was detained sometime in February and taken into custody (on February 18th) based upon the decision of the Khimki District Court of Moscow Region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is currently being held in a detention facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The charges are serious, based on objective facts and evidence that is available,” said the ministry. “Attempts by the [U.S.] State Department to cast doubt on the validity of the detention of B. Griner are explained solely by the desire to influence justice by politicizing a generally understandable situation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry’s claim of attempted politicization is ironic, and essentially hypocritical when you think about Putin’s rationale for invading Ukraine and the timing and significance of Griner’s arrest<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Griner’s arrest came right around the time of both escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the eventual invasion of the latter on February 24th.<\/p>

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