US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 7, 2022. - Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
<p>Brittney Griner&#8217;s ordeal in Russia doesn&#8217;t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon. On Thursday, the U.S. basketball player pled guilty to Russian drug charges, per <em>Reuters. </em>As previously reported, Russian authorities detained Brittney while she was entering the country with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. If she&#8217;s convicted, Brittney could face up to <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/brittney-griners-trial-in-russia-to-begin-on-friday-faces-up-to-10-years-if-convicted/">10 years in prison</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I&#8217;d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn&#8217;t want to break the law,&#8221; Brittney told the court.</p></blockquote>
<p>Brittney added that the cartridges officials found in her luggage were a mistake. According to <em>CNN, </em>Brittney <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/07/europe/brittney-griner-russia-pleads-guilty/index.html">told the court</a> via an interpreter that the contraband was a result of packing in a hurry.</p>
<p>Though Brittney did not speak to reporters while leaving the courtroom, she reportedly asked for time to prepare a statement. She is scheduled to be back in court on July 14.</p>
<p>On Thursday, she appeared wearing a bright red, Crenshaw t-shirt and matching sweats. She also wore glasses with her locs pulled into a low ponytail.</p>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CftvAx4rLDA/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div>
 <iframe class="custom-ig-embed" data-src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CftvAx4rLDA/embed/captioned" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="640px" scrolling="no" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"></iframe>
 </div></blockquote>
<p>Brittney&#8217;s trial began on July 1 at the Khimki Court near Moscow. Prior to the trial, the court determined the U.S. citizen would remain behind bars for the trial and the next six months.</p>
<p>Her plea on Thursday differs from the <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/brittney-griner-reportedly-pleads-not-guilty-to-drug-charges-in-russia-update/">plea made in March</a>. At the time, she pled not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Russian media reported officials extended Brittney&#8217;s detainment to May 19.</p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Brittney Pens Letter To President Biden Requesting Help</strong></h5>
<p>Towards the end of May, Brittney&#8217;s wife Cherelle Griner<a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/brittney-griners-wife-speaks-out-about-the-wnba-stars-detainment-in-new-interview/"> spoke about the detainment</a> in an interview. She pleaded with President Joe Biden to abide by any demands made by the foreign country.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I keep hearing he has the power. She&#8217;s a political pawn so if they&#8217;re holding her because they want you to do something, then I want you to do it,&#8221; Cherelle aimed at President Biden.</p></blockquote>
<p><amp-twitter data-tweetid="1529430364187500544" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480"></amp-twitter></p>
<p>Earlier this week, Brittney echoed her wife&#8217;s attempt to directly reach President Joe Biden. The 31-year-old penned a letter that was shared in excerpts by <em>ESPN&#8217;s</em> T.J. Quinn. A rep for Brittney and <em>ESPN </em>refused to release the full letter or how the letter ended up at the White House from Russia.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don&#8217;t forget about me and the other detainees,&#8221; Brittney wrote. &#8220;Please do all you can to bring us home.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><amp-twitter data-tweetid="1544043021213356038" layout="responsive" width="600" height="480"></amp-twitter></p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Russian Officials Say Brittney Is Not A Political Prisoner</strong></h5>
<p>Brittney&#8217;s arrest back in February came on the heels of Russia invading Ukraine&#8211;thus souring relations with the U.S. and other countries. Though the U.S. declared Brittney &#8220;wrongfully detained&#8221; in May, the status has done little to help her situation.</p>
<p>Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied the athlete is a hostage. Speaking through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/spokesman-for-vladimir-putin-claims-brittney-griner-is-not-a-hostage-as-she-remains-in-russian-custody/">president said</a> she&#8217;s being punished for breaking the law regarding hashish. Dmitry pointed out that &#8220;hundreds and hundreds of Russian citizens&#8221; have met the similar judgment for the same crime.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;She violated Russian law, and now she&#8217;s being prosecuted. It&#8217;s not about being a hostage,&#8221; Dmitry said. &#8220;There are lots of American citizens here. They&#8217;re enjoying their freedoms&#8230;but you have to obey the laws.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_gTO2uSdaQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Want updates directly in your text inbox? Hit us up at 917-722-8057 or <span class="s1"><a href="https://my.community.com/theshaderoom">click here to join!</a> </span></p>
 <div class="wpra-reactions-wrap wpra-plugin-container" style="justify-content: center;;"> <div class="wpra-reactions-container" data-ver="1.3.10" data-post_id="93048" data-show_count="true" data-enable_share="onclick" data-behavior="regular" data-animation="true" data-share_url="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/update-brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-to-russian-charges-but-denies-she-intended-to-break-the-law/" data-secure="48a9db8d67"> <div class="wpra-call-to-action" style="color: #000000;font-size: 25px;font-weight: 600;">What Do You Think Roomies?</div> <div class="wpra-reactions wpra-static-emojis size-medium" style="border-color: #ffffff;border-width: 0px;border-radius: 50px;border-style: solid;background: #ffffff;">					<div class="emoji-8 wpra-reaction wpra-pad-fix" data-count="" data-emoji_id="8"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-10 wpra-reaction wpra-pad-fix" data-count="" data-emoji_id="10"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-4 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="4"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-5 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="5"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-2 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="2"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-7 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="7"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div><div class="emoji-12 wpra-reaction" data-count="" data-emoji_id="12"> <div class="wpra-plus-one">+1</div>	 <div style="background-color: #ff0015" class="wpra-arrow-badge arrow-bottom-left hide-count"> <span style="border-top-color: #ff0015" class="tail"></span> <span style="color: #ffffff" class="count-num">0</span> </div>	</div> </div> <div class="wpra-share-wrap wpra-share-buttons-bordered" style="">				 </div> <!-- end of share buttons -->			 </div> <!-- end of reactions container --> </div> <!-- end of reactions wrap -->		
