**Summary Report: The Brittney Griner Case—Where Sports, Gender, and Geopolitics Collide**

**Brittney Griner’s Detention and Political Symbolism:**
In February 2022, WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport when Russian authorities said they found cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most prominent openly gay, Black athletes in professional sports, quickly became the focus of global attention.

Her arrest occurred amidst heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war, raising concerns that her incarceration was being used for geopolitical leverage.

Griner was ultimately sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony, a punishment widely viewed as harsh.

**Intersectionality: Gender, Race, and Sexual Identity:**
Griner’s plight highlighted the vulnerability faced by women, especially Black LGBTQ+ women, when entangled in international legal and political systems.

Advocates pointed out the risks that come with being a prominent minority and how such identities can exacerbate an already precarious situation abroad.

Her case rallied support from across the U.S.—not just from sports fans but from Black, LGBTQ+, and human rights communities, all demanding greater protection and government intervention.

**Life in Russian Detention:**
Griner spent 294 days in Russian custody, a significant portion in a penal colony, which is known for its harsh and isolating conditions.

While details of her daily life remain limited, reports suggest she endured cold, discomfort, and psychological strain.

Yet, through her legal team, she conveyed remarkable resolve, choosing to plead guilty to expedite the process and showing courage amidst adversity.

**American Government’s Response:**
Her detention catalyzed intense diplomatic engagement.

Griner wrote publicly to President Biden, urging action not just for herself but for other Americans held abroad.

The U.S. State Department classified her as wrongfully detained, signaling a shift to more aggressive negotiation tactics.

After months of stalled discussions and mounting public pressure, a high-stakes prisoner swap was secured: Griner was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker.

The exchange prompted debate in the U.S. about the ethics of such deals, especially as other Americans remained detained in Russia.

**Impact and Return Home:**
Upon her release, Griner rejoined the WNBA, receiving a rapturous welcome.

She spoke about increased gratitude, resilience, and a renewed sense of joy for simple freedoms.

Her return not only elevated discussions about athletes' rights and protections abroad but also drew attention to ongoing issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia—both in arenas and beyond.

Simultaneously, Griner’s ordeal symbolized both the challenges and power in collective advocacy, as well as the personal costs of international politics on individual lives.

**Broader Implications:**
The case underscored how governments can use celebrity athletes as bargaining chips in international disputes.

It exposed the vulnerabilities of marginalized athletes and revived dialogue about safe conditions for Black lesbian women worldwide.

Griner’s story, ultimately, is not just about basketball or detention; it’s a testament to how athletic fame, identity, and global politics are increasingly, and hazardously, intertwined.

**Summary: Brittney Griner’s Detention, Political Implications, and Aftermath**

**Background:**
Brittney Griner, a star American basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possessing cannabis oil.

Her arrest coincided with heightened U.S.-Russia tensions due to the invasion of Ukraine, raising immediate suspicions that her case would be used politically.

**Political Implications:**
Griner’s case quickly moved beyond routine law enforcement.

The Russian government appeared to use her status as a high-profile American and LGBTQ athlete to gain leverage over the United States.

Her detainment became a diplomatic tool, with American officials and activists noting the disproportionate sentence and strict conditions she faced compared to typical cases.

Griner was explicitly referenced in international negotiations, and Russian state media coverage fueled narratives of Western hypocrisy and weakness.

Her eventual release was achieved via a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer.

This exchange, which involved intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity, drew both relief and criticism in the U.S.: while many celebrated Griner’s freedom, others questioned trading her for a figure nicknamed “the Merchant of Death.” The highly publicized exchange can be seen as emblematic of how international politics, sports celebrity, and gender intersect—a Black, openly queer female athlete becoming a pawn in superpower diplomacy.

**Experiences in Russian Prison:**
Details since Griner’s release, including references to her forthcoming memoir (“Return Home”), reveal the trauma of her experience.

Russian penitentiaries are known for harsh conditions; Griner faced isolation, uncertainty about her fate, language barriers, and detention in a penal colony, which differs radically from Western incarceration practices.

Doubts about basic safety, medical care, and physical well-being were ever-present, compounding the psychological ordeal of being a political bargaining chip.

**U.S. Government’s Response:**
The U.S. government labeled Griner “wrongfully detained” and prioritized her case at the highest diplomatic levels.

The Biden administration was under pressure from advocacy groups, the sports world, and the public to secure her release.

Negotiations took months, with updates often relayed through international media rather than direct communication.

Griner’s family and supporters campaigned tirelessly for her return, leveraging her celebrity status for visibility.

**Return and Readjustment:**
Following her release, Griner began a process of reintegration at home, which included both public relief and intense scrutiny.

She resumed her WNBA career but also spoke out about the traumatic nature of her incarceration and the importance of advocating for other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Her experience underscored issues of race, gender, and sexuality in sports and geopolitics, sparking wider conversations about athlete activism, state power, and the unique risks faced by marginalized sports figures on the global stage.

Griner’s story is thus not just a tale of individual survival, but a potent reminder of how public figures—especially women and minorities—can be entangled in the broader games of international politics.

**Nuggets of Information on Brittney Griner’s Detention and Aftermath:**

1.

**Griner’s Detention and Incarceration in Russia:**
   - Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 and spent 10 months incarcerated.

She was accused of possessing marijuana vape cartridges at a Moscow airport.

- Griner describes her experience as “the beginning of an incomprehensible period in my life,” marking her arrest and imprisonment as deeply traumatic and life-altering.

- During her stay in the Russian penal system, she endured harsh conditions, a situation made more fraught as an LGBTQ+ woman and high-profile American athlete.

**Reasons for Being in Russia:**
   - Prior to her arrest, Griner played for the Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Pursuing a professional career overseas is common among WNBA athletes, who seek higher salaries and more playing opportunities.

- She returned to Russia post-WNBA season, motivated by a sense of responsibility toward her wife, family, and colleagues, expressing a desire “to make them proud.”

3.

**Political Implications and Use as a Pawn:**
   - Griner’s detention occurred against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-Russia tensions, especially after the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

Her status as a Black, queer, American female athlete added symbolic weight.

- Russia’s decision to detain and later convict Griner carried political overtones, as her arrest became a flashpoint in deteriorating bilateral relations, with many observers believing she was used as leverage.

**U.S. Government’s Response and Prisoner Swap:**
   - The U.S. government engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to secure her release, facing public pressure and criticism over the progress and prioritization of her case.

- Ultimately, she was freed in December 2022 as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange, swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The swap reflected difficult moral and political calculations, drawing both relief for Griner’s freedom and controversy over the exchange itself.

**Griner’s Adjustment and Reflections:**
   - Following her release, Griner publicly expressed gratitude for global support, underscoring how the experience reshaped her outlook on freedom, identity, and the broader issues faced by wrongfully detained individuals.

- She plans to publish a memoir (set for release in 2024) recounting her ordeal, aiming to inform and move readers by sharing the intimate details of her captivity and the broader context of international politics, gender, and sports.

- Her story is emblematic of how women in sports—especially those from marginalized communities—can become pawns in geopolitical contests, making visible the intersection of sexism, racism, and political power.

**Summary Conclusion:**
Brittney Griner’s ordeal in Russia highlights the precarious intersection of sports, gender, sexuality, and geopolitics.

Her detention mobilized international outcry and forced a reckoning with how governments manipulate the fates of prominent individuals for political gain.

As Griner reintegrates into public life, her narrative becomes a powerful testament to both the vulnerabilities and the enduring strength of women athletes navigating a volatile world.

**Summary Report: The Brittney Griner Case—Where Sports, Gender, and Geopolitics Collide**

**Brittney Griner’s Detention and Political Symbolism:**
In February 2022, WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained at a Moscow airport when Russian authorities said they found cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage.

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Content: Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude

Brittney Griner Is Ready to Tell Her ‘Unfathomable’ Story in New Memoir

The two-time Olympic gold medalist will finally tell the story of her Russian detainment.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Ahead of her return to the WNBA, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has confirmed that she will tell the true story behind her wrongful detainment in Russia. According to The Associated Press, on Tuesday, the eight-time all-star announced that she is working on a memoir about her imprisonment. It is currently scheduled for release in spring 2024.

In February 2022, Griner was stopped in a Moscow airport when the police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The WNBA champion was charged with drug smuggling and possession. After a short trial, the basketball star was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison. Just as she was beginning her sentence in a labor camp, in December 2022 the U.S. and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, with Griner coming home, while convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was released into Russian custody.

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“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement released by Alfred A. Knopf.

When she was arrested, Griner was headed back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg, the professional team she played for there. Most top WNBA stars play overseas the rest of the year, as they don’t earn much money competing in the United States.

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“The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud,” she said. “After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist went on to say that she hopes “her book would raise awareness of other Americans detained overseas.” In December 2022, the Baylor alum announced on Instagram that she planned to play during the upcoming season, writing, “I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”

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In February, Griner re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury for a one-year deal. She will make her 2023 season debut on the road on Friday, May 19 against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most prominent openly gay, Black athletes in professional sports, quickly became the focus of global attention.

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Content: ‘She brings light’: Brittney Griner’s triumphant return to the WNBA

Prior to being detained in a Russian prison for 294 days, Brittney Griner was on top of the world.

The 32-year-old was coming off one of the best WNBA seasons of her career. She was the Most Valuable Player runner-up, averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury, who she led back to the WNBA finals for the first time since winning the title in 2014. Meanwhile, Griner was on her way to play for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, who she had led to four EuroLeague titles since she started spending her WNBA off-seasons there in 2014.

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At the time of her arrest Griner was, according to the testimony of her Russian teammate Evgenia Belyakova, “the most beloved player in Russia.”

To become such a popular figure in both America and Russia is no easy task for a gay, Black woman. But Griner’s ascent was never easy. She was bullied relentlessly growing up, first for her size and later for her sexuality, becoming one of the first active athletes in professional North American sports to come out as gay, shortly after being drafted No 1 overall by the Mercury in 2013.

In her first game as a pro, the 6ft 9in Griner towered over her opponents, changing the perceptions of what a female basketball player was capable of when she set a WNBA record with two dunks in a game. Griner went on to win a WNBA title, two Olympic gold medals, and seven WNBA All-Star appearances, on pace to achieve a level of greatness few ever have in the women’s game, and being marketed accordingly.

In fact, Griner was the first openly gay athlete to be endorsed by Nike. And the WNBA used her at the center of its marketing, acknowledging that gay athletes and LGBTQ+ activists like Griner were good for business.

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So when it all came crashing down at a Moscow airport on 17 February 2022, when Griner was found with vape cartridges containing traces of hashish oil in her luggage, not only did her career come to a screeching halt, but the league that she had been bound to since 2013 lost some of its forward momentum, too. She was later sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.

As much as Griner tried to stay positive, and as much as the WNBA community tried to help, a cloud hung over the entire 2022 season – one that would not dissipate until Griner was released and returned to America.

“Last year, it felt as though we couldn’t play with joy … It felt bad for us to be happy or to celebrate things because the weight of BG’s wrongful detainment weighed over us,” says former Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard.

When the US negotiated a prisoner swap to secure Griner’s freedom last December, she almost immediately announced her intention to return to the WNBA in 2023, signing a one-year deal with the Mercury. But nobody knew what to expect from Griner, who had spent almost a year under arduous physical and mental conditions.

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But, against all odds, Griner appears to be back to her normal self, on and off the court.

Related: WNBA power lies with two superteams. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing

In her first WNBA game in 579 days, Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. In her first home game a couple of days later, she hit just the seventh three-pointer of her career, yelling “I’m back!” to the crowd of 14,000 cheering fans.

“I appreciate everything a little more,” Griner said about being back in the league. “All the little, small moments that I used to just [think]: ‘Oh, I’m so tired, I don’t want to go to practice today. And, oh, this and that.’ That has changed, honestly. Just appreciating everything because tomorrow’s not guaranteed.”

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Griner is averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.4 blocks on a career-high 61.8% shooting through her first nine games of the 2023 season. She is back to being the Mercury’s best player, dominating in the post over swarms of defenders and blocking everything that comes her way on the other end of the floor. After being an honorary All-Star selection last season, Griner was named an All-Star starter on Sunday.

But what may be even more impressive is the enthusiasm and spirit she has brought to the Mercury and the WNBA, constantly flashing her trademark smile, joking around at press conferences, and uplifting her teammates at every opportunity.

“We were all hoping that she was going to be OK coming back, and that she did not lose her light, and she really didn’t,” says Mercury forward Megan Gustafson, adding that Griner’s presence has transformed the locker room. “I think we were a little bit surprised, because anyone that goes through an experience like that – I mean, I couldn’t even imagine being the same person. But she really is and I’m just so proud of her and just the light that she brings again … It’s really just her light, her positivity that [has] shone through.”

Sandy Brondello, who coached Griner in Phoenix for eight seasons prior to moving on to New York, is also glowing about the player’s return to the WNBA. “It’s like sometimes we sweat having a bad game – she was in prison,” says Brondello. “She had to live in prison for such a long time. So I think she has that joy. Just go out there and play.”

Griner has brought a lot of attention to the WNBA, which was already growing rapidly. Not only is the league averaging almost 1,000 more fans a game in Griner’s return season, but its broadcasts have also hit record viewership numbers – up 49% from last season across ESPN networks.

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“I think that if you look at last season, there was something and someone missing in the WNBA and that was obviously Brittney Griner,” former WNBA MVP and Griner’s one-time UMMC Ekaterinburg teammate Breanna Stewart says. “So the ability to have her back here kind of makes our circle complete, because she is such a force and a presence on and off the court and her ability to kind of be so dominant and aggressive but also such a kind, caring person – everybody’s missed that.”

Griner’s on-court play cannot be separated from her political advocacy off it, especially in a league as socially active as the WNBA. And Griner’s imprisonment has forced the WNBA to reckon with its lackluster treatment of athletes in the past, forcing the league to improve pay and travel standards so that the Griner situation does not repeat itself.

After all, the primary reason that Griner was in Russia in the first place is because her salary at UMMC Ekaterinburg is over $1m compared to the $165,100 she will make this year in the WNBA. In fact, 67 of the league’s 144 players still played internationally last off-season despite Griner’s detainment. Doing so is a financial necessity rather than a choice for most of the world’s best female basketball players.

The incident also highlighted concerns about commercial travel for WNBA players, many of whom are gay, Black women who can be targets of abuse. In fact, Griner has already been harassed this season when a conservative media personality confronted her and her teammates inside a Dallas airport in mid-June.

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In the past, the league has argued that charter flights create an unfair competitive advantage for teams that can afford to pay for them, fining the New York Liberty $500,000 for chartering flights last season. But the WNBA has already made improvements this season, allowing private flights for back-to-back games and for all playoff games. And after the news of Griner’s harassment and the pressure that came from it, the league recently announced that teams are permitted to fly on a public chartering service called JSX for the rest of the season.

It’s a step in the right direction that may not have been possible if not for Griner – a singular force who is as easy to galvanize around because of her on-court performances as she is for her personality. The league still has a long way to go in regards to growing the game and improving standards for its athletes, but Griner’s return has undoubtedly expedited the process.

“It’s a shame that it had to get to rock bottom. Because I feel like waiting for something to happen and then making a change, you don’t know what that something’s gonna be,” Griner said. “We’ve all seen what can happen in this world. And when you play the ‘let’s wait and see game,’ you’re really playing with fire. You’re playing with people’s lives.

“So I’m glad that they finally got it together and are going to allow us to do this. It’s just a shame that it took so damn long.”

Her arrest occurred amidst heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war, raising concerns that her incarceration was being used for geopolitical leverage.

Griner was ultimately sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony, a punishment widely viewed as harsh.

**Intersectionality: Gender, Race, and Sexual Identity:**
Griner’s plight highlighted the vulnerability faced by women, especially Black LGBTQ+ women, when entangled in international legal and political systems.

Title:

Content: Last Updated on July 4, 2022 by BVN

S. E. Williams |

The Black lesbian feminist poet Audre Lorde once said that she wrote “for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves.”

Lorde further stated, “We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.”

However, in the decades since Lorde penned those words many Black lesbians are no longer silent. Yet, we must ask the question, how safe are Black lesbians today? Perhaps we should ask WNBA basketball star, Brittney Griner, who is among the growing number of prominent Black lesbians in America living out loud.

Most have battle scar evidence of their struggle to find a peaceful life in a world that in many ways, still considers who they are and who they love an aberration.  And, although disrespect and dangers continue to lurk for members of the LGBTQ+ community in America, it is still safer to live here than in many other places in the world.

Unfortunately for Griner, however, she is now trapped in a country, where racism against Blacks is normalized and where the government is working to ostracize members of the LGBTQ+ community. But how different is this really from many places in America today.

Despite the spread of anti-gay sentiments in Russia and right leaning countries across Europe, Griner plays basketball internationally during the WNBA’s off season. This despite writing about her “coming out” in her 2017 autobiography, “In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court,” which helped make her one of the most recognizable lesbians in the world.

Racism and Homophobia in Russia

For those who have not followed Griner’s fate in recent months, she was arrested on drug charges in Russia on February 17. Her arrest came just days after a Russian court suspended a lawsuit (February 11) intended to shut down its LGBT Network—the country’s most powerful gay rights organization—for  purportedly spreading gay views, which of course, could farcically include anything from a view out one’s window of gay people walking down the street, to realistically include gay people advocating for the same rights to live and love as they choose like any other Russian.

Identifying as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender or queer has been legal in Russia since 1993 (how enlightened) however in 2013 under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, the nation adopted what’s been called the “gay propaganda” law that made it illegal to speak words related to the LGBTQ+ community around minors.

Racism and homophobia in America

Before Russia took such action, America was already contriving to do the same.

There has been much criticism recently of Florida’s recently enacted Parental Rights in Education Bill signed into law in April that appeared to follow Russia’s lead. But, it was revealed by The Center for Media and Democracy (Center), a nonprofit that tracks the work of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), that the Parental Rights Amendment was actually listed under its “Education Task Force and included in the 1995 ALEC Sourcebook of American State Legislation.

Also, according to the Center, although ALEC has tried to distance itself from this controversial legislation since 2011, it is difficult to identify any efforts to advocate against the current movement to codify this legislative into law across the country.

ALEC is a nonprofit organization of conservative state legislators and private sector representatives that drafts models of legislation for distribution and adoption by conservative legislatures around the country and for decades has worked to pull America toward extremism.

Sadly, Florida’s recent law is just the tip of the iceberg. Anti LGBTQ+ toxicity is spreading quickly in America. Red states from Ohio to Texas to Indiana to Colorado to Wyoming to South Dakota, Iowa, Utah and beyond   have pushed to pass similar bills. In some instances state’s were only prevented from doing so by Democratic legislators who held the line against Republican, anti-gay governors seeking to work their will.

As we watch and point with deserved derision and criticism, the unfolding fate of Griner in Russia, Time magazine provided a chilling reminder in mid-May, of what is possible in America regarding the welfare of LGBTQ+ citizens. It recalled the successful work of  Florida’s Johns Committee—a state legislative committee that launched an LGBTQ+ purge in the late 1950s rooted in racism, homophobia, and anti-communism.

Beginning in 1957 and continuing through 1963 the Florida legislative committee persecuted and intimidated those suspected of being gay at state universities as part of the state’s resistance to federally sanctioned school desegregation in response to the 1954 Brown v Board of Education Supreme Court decision.

According to Time, the committee’s original goal was to uncover all communists believed to be behind desegregation. Not surprisingly since it was based on a false premise, that mission failed. This subsequently compelled the committee to find another group to scapegoat—gays and lesbians. This eventually led to a report popularly known as “The Purple Pamphlet”( because of its sensational and explicit content), that highlighted “the extent of infiltration into agencies supported by state funds by practicing homosexuals.”

By1965, hundreds of Floridians were prosecuted and charged because of their sexuality. Frighteningly, not unlike the experiences of Griner in Russia today, Florida interrogations were reportedly conducted in privacy and even worse, the accused were denied legal counsel.

A need to raise our collective voices

Today, as Griner languishes in a Russian prison—most assuredly because she is Black and a lesbian who may or may not have committed a minor drug infraction in a racist, homophobic country —,there are legitimate concerns about her safety.  As her detention days turn into weeks and weeks into months, there is little doubt it is up to all of us, Black women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who support and validate our right to exist and every American committed to human rights to pressure the federal government to bring her home. We must raise our collective voices to keep Griner’s freedom at the forefront of America’s political consciousness.

Audre Lorde lamented about the fate of Black lesbians in her seminal work the Black Unicorn where she noted “’The black unicorn was mistaken for a shadow or symbol and taken through a cold country…, ” She further spoke to the power of Black women/lesbian strength and determination to live their truth stating,  “the Black unicorn is unrelenting.” I pray this perceived power is enough to sustain Griner (her wife and loved ones) in the days ahead.

In concluding her poem Lorde also reminded all of us that although the metaphorical Black unicorn is empowered, as we are witnessing today decades after Lorde put pen to paper on this issue, as it relates to Griner, “the Black unicorn is not free.”

Raise your voice to advocate for Griner’s freedom by calling the U.S. Department of State at 1-202-647-4000 and the White House at 202-456-1111 to advocate for Griner’s release. Remember, “Silence is complicity.”

Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.

S.E. Williams

Stephanie Williams is executive editor of the IE Voice and Black Voice News. A longtime champion for civil rights and justice in all its forms, she is also an advocate for government transparency and committed to ferreting out and exposing government corruption. Stephanie has received awards for her investigative reporting and for her weekly column, Keeping it Real. Contact Stephanie with tips, comments. or concerns at myopinion@ievoice.com.

Advocates pointed out the risks that come with being a prominent minority and how such identities can exacerbate an already precarious situation abroad.

Her case rallied support from across the U.S.—not just from sports fans but from Black, LGBTQ+, and human rights communities, all demanding greater protection and government intervention.

**Life in Russian Detention:**
Griner spent 294 days in Russian custody, a significant portion in a penal colony, which is known for its harsh and isolating conditions.

While details of her daily life remain limited, reports suggest she endured cold, discomfort, and psychological strain.

Yet, through her legal team, she conveyed remarkable resolve, choosing to plead guilty to expedite the process and showing courage amidst adversity.

Title:

Content: Brittney Griner to make another court appearance at a hearing in Russia

The content originally appeared on: CNN

CNN

WNBA star Brittney Griner is expected to make another court appearance Thursday, a week after she pleaded guilty to drug charges at a Russian court near Moscow.

The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist was arrested February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The hearing comes as many in the WNBA, along with other athletes, coaches and politicians, have called for Griner’s release over fears she is being used as a political pawn amid the war in Ukraine. The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained.

Griner also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden in which she said she fears she will be detained in Russia indefinitely and pleaded for the President not to forget about her or other American detainees.

“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home,” Griner wrote. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”

It is unclear if the hearing on Thursday will lead to a verdict or if the trial could drag into additional hearings. Griner admitted guilt in the last hearing but told the court that she had not intended to commit a crime, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

During Thursday’s hearing, the court could force the defense to expand further on her intention, or they could move on to sentencing her, US officials said.

Griner’s lawyers expect the court to take into account the 31-year-old athlete’s guilty plea and hope for leniency, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina told journalists last week.

Samples taken from Griner did not show any traces of drugs, Boykov added. “She was clean, and she was tested,” the lawyer said.

Griner’s legal team said it was her decision to plead guilty, adding that she “sets an example of being brave.”

“She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” their statement read.

“Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”

Her lawyers said they expect the trial to end around the beginning of the August.

CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Rosa Flores, Jacqueline Rose, Alexa Miranda, Abby Phillip, Dakin Andone and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.

**American Government’s Response:**
Her detention catalyzed intense diplomatic engagement.

Griner wrote publicly to President Biden, urging action not just for herself but for other Americans held abroad.

The U.S. State Department classified her as wrongfully detained, signaling a shift to more aggressive negotiation tactics.

After months of stalled discussions and mounting public pressure, a high-stakes prisoner swap was secured: Griner was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker.

The exchange prompted debate in the U.S. about the ethics of such deals, especially as other Americans remained detained in Russia.

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Brittney Griner Involved In Possible Prisoner Swap With Russia

In an effort to free Brittney Griner, the pro basketball star detained in Russia, the Biden administration has offered to swap her for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout and send him back to Russia, Forbes has learned. Negotiations are in the early stages, according to a non-government source in a position to know.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA all-star who also plays professionally in Russia, was arrested in Moscow Feb. 17 after customs police claimed they found vape cartridges with hash oil in her luggage. Bout, the so-called “Merchant of Death,” inspired Nicolas Cage’s gunrunner character in the 2005 film, “Lord of War.” He’s serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison since his 2011 conviction in New York federal court of conspiring to sell millions of dollars in weapons to FARC, the Colombian terror group.

The possibility of a Griner-Bout trade was reported on May 13 by Tass, Russia’s state-owned news agency, and confirmed for Forbes by the source. “Currently, talks are underway on exchanging Bout for Griner,” Tass reported, citing “a source in the Public Monitoring Commission.” A second Moscow-based news outlet, Gazeta.Ru, had earlier reported a Griner-Bout exchange was in the works.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to comment. Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who leads the interagency team that’s working for Griner’s release, had no comment. The same was true for Bout’s New York attorney, Steve Zissou. Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s California agent, did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite the anti-Russian fervor in Washington sparked by President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, the White House a month ago struck a deal to free Trevor Reed, a former Marine who had been held in a Russian prison for two years for allegedly attacking a Moscow police officer. In exchange, President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving 20 years for conspiring to import $100 million in cocaine.

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who’d been instrumental in Reed’s release, is also working on behalf of Griner’s family at their request, according to Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center. He’s also working for the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine detained in Moscow since 2018 on espionage charges. “The situation (as you might imagine) is sensitive,” Bergman said, declining to comment further.

Bout was a translator in the Soviet army before starting an air-freight company that transported tens of millions of arms he supplied during his heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s to sanctioned militias and rebels in conflicts throughout Africa and Asia. Soft-spoken, erudite, fluent in seven languages with an IQ of 170, Bout seemed more like a university professor than the world’s most notorious illegal arms trafficker. His 2008 arrest in Bangkok was part of a sting operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The U.S. government opposes the practice of wrongful detention as a bargaining chip because it represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working and living abroad, a State Department official told Forbes. That disdain, however, didn’t stop the department from helping arrange the release of Reed and others.

Griner, 31, is by far the most high profile of the more than a dozen Americans detained by Russia in the last decade. That puts more pressure on the State Department, which is acutely aware that as a Black lesbian, Griner could be a target of Putin’s exclusionary politics. Since the maximum base salary in the WNBA is $228,094 — male stars can earn as much as Steph Curry’s $45 million annually — Griner and many other American women play during the WNBA off-season in Russia, where they can bring home more than $1 million. Griner has played several years for the team in Ekaterinburg.

Griner’s U.S. supporters were at first mostly silent over her plight. The government convinced them that Russia might deport her quickly only if her case did not become front-page news. Once it became clear that Russia planned to hold her, the State Department changed her status to “wrongfully detained,” opening the door to swap negotiations. Briner’s U.S. supporters have spoken out forcefully against her imprisonment.

One lingering question is whether a deal to swap Bout for Griner will get Biden’s approval. Given the president’s declaration that Putin is a “war criminal,” some on Griner’s team worry he might hesitate before freeing an infamous Russian arms trafficker.

“There’s a problem with releasing a convicted arms trafficker for Griner, whose drug possession would probably only be a fine in the U.S.,” says Shira Scheindlin, the retired federal judge who presided over the Bout trial and was required to sentence him to the 25-year mandatory minimum. “It would be better if Bout – who has already served too much time in my opinion – was exchanged for both Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Then there would be some moral equivalency about which few could complain.”

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**Impact and Return Home:**
Upon her release, Griner rejoined the WNBA, receiving a rapturous welcome.

She spoke about increased gratitude, resilience, and a renewed sense of joy for simple freedoms.

Her return not only elevated discussions about athletes' rights and protections abroad but also drew attention to ongoing issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia—both in arenas and beyond.

Simultaneously, Griner’s ordeal symbolized both the challenges and power in collective advocacy, as well as the personal costs of international politics on individual lives.

**Broader Implications:**
The case underscored how governments can use celebrity athletes as bargaining chips in international disputes.

Title:

Content: Foreign sports stars flee Russia as world shuns their teams

Darko Vojinovic/AP/File
Russia players react at the end of the 2019 Women's EuroBasket European Basketball Championship match between Russia and Sweden in Belgrade, Serbia, July 6, 2019.

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Less than a year ago, Russia’s domestic sports leagues, like their peers across Europe, flourished with a mix of foreign and domestic players.

What a difference a war makes.

Why We Wrote This

The Ukraine war’s ramifications may not be hitting the Russian public hard, but Russian sports are suffering as foreign players and organizations boycott them.

Russian basketball, hockey, and soccer teams have been excluded from international competition since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and star foreign players are dropping their contracts and leaving the country. U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence on drug smuggling charges has not improved the atmosphere.

Russian athletes have been shut out of international sports before – from the Russian Revolution in 1917 until 1952 – and the effects were clear. “There was no way to compare our level” with that of other countries, says Nikolai Yeremenko, a leading sports journalist.

Some veteran Soviet athletes say Russia’s isolation should be taken as an opportunity to better develop Russian players. But Russian sports fans will be the biggest losers, as the quality of games drops in the absence of foreigners.

“Right now we have no foreign players in our club,” says Sergei Druzhinin, manager of the Metallurg ice hockey team in Magnitogorsk. “The level of our games ... will be dragged down.”

Less than a year ago, Russia’s domestic sports leagues, like their peers across Europe, flourished with a mix of foreign and domestic players.

What a difference a war makes.

Today, amid deepening Cold War-like tensions between the Kremlin and the West, and as WNBA star Brittney Griner faces a 9-year sentence in a Russian penal colony, Russian basketball, hockey, and soccer teams are finding themselves forced out of international competition. And many of the one-time “legionnaires” – foreign players – on whom they depend are dropping their contracts and leaving the country.

Why We Wrote This

The Ukraine war’s ramifications may not be hitting the Russian public hard, but Russian sports are suffering as foreign players and organizations boycott them.

The alienation of Russian athletes from global sports has been an ongoing saga for years, since massive doping allegations largely forced official Russia out of the Olympics. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February led most international sports federations to ban Russian teams from scheduled competitions.

But less well known is the fate of hundreds of foreign players who, like Ms. Griner, had brought their expertise to far-flung local Russian sports teams that had been developing reputations at both the national and European levels.

The war has brought all that to a grinding halt, and upended European championship hopes for Russian basketball and soccer teams. Many European and American players have decamped while the few who remain have been subjected to considerable opprobrium.

The exodus of foreign legionnaires has been the subject of considerable debate in the Russian sports media, with some arguing that it spells the end of Russia’s sports ambitions for a generation, while others claim it will give more opportunities to Russian players and boost domestic sports development.

“Not enough qualified players”

Ms. Griner, a leading player with the Urals city of Yekaterinburg’s UMMC basketball team, was arrested on Feb. 17, before the war started, and charged with possession of a small quantity of hashish oil. In August, she was sentenced to 9 years in prison, an exceedingly harsh judgement even by Russian standards, which has caused speculation that the Kremlin hopes to use her in a Cold-War-style prisoner exchange with the United States.

But her ordeal has added to the wartime chill that’s already driving foreign players out of Russia.

“Obviously if one of the best basketball players is sitting in prison, it’s going to have a very discouraging effect on all foreign players who might think of signing a contract in Russia,” says Eduard Sorokin, an independent sports expert.

“All efforts to create a situation that attracts players of the highest level to Russian sports teams have been undermined, and all the benefits ruined. It’s not to say that legal violations should be overlooked. She pleaded guilty, [but] she might have just been fined and justice satisfied with minimal punishment. Now the damage is done.”

In an extensive interview with the official RIA-Novosti agency, UMMC captain Yevgenia Belyakova, who went to Moscow to testify on Ms. Griner’s behalf, praised her as a “good person” and a “disciplined” player who did not intend to break any laws. She lamented the fact that all the team’s foreign players and its Spanish coach left in February after Ms. Griner was arrested and the team was excluded from the EuroLeague Women’s competition.

“Naturally, the situation with Brittney could not but affect our legionnaires,” she said. “[We were] a big and friendly family. We not only played together, but also spent a lot of time off the court. It’s no secret that our team was formed for the Euroleague, and victory in [the championship] was our main goal of the season.”

Evgenia Novozhenina/AP
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner (background center) listens to a verdict in a courtroom in Khimki, Russia, just outside Moscow, Aug. 4, 2022.

A similar situation pervades other sports, including hockey, where Russian teams have long been seen as a spawning ground for the NHL. The Kontinental Hockey League, which includes several non-Russian clubs, saw teams in Latvia and Finland drop out in protest of the war, and many players have followed suit.

“There are not enough qualified players to fill all Russian hockey teams; we need foreign players,” says Sergei Druzhinin, manager of the Metallurg hockey team in the Urals city of Magnitogorsk. “Right now we have no foreign players in our club. They’ve all gone. It means the level of our games, both as spectacle and professional attainment, will be dragged down.”

Some see an opportunity

Russian soccer may be taking the worst hit of all, says Nikolai Yeremenko, editor of Sovetsky Sport, a leading sports daily. “Football [soccer] has suffered more than most other sports. The money earned by leading Russian teams in [European competition] was a serious support for club budgets. But now all the high-level foreign players have left.”

“FIFA [international soccer’s governing body] made this possible by changing the rules to allow foreign players to suspend their contracts [with Russian teams] without facing any legal consequences. As a result, teams cannot plan ahead,” he says. “A player can disappear and not face any punishment. It’s already clear that the level of Russian football has deteriorated. We can no longer compare our level with the European one.”

As of early August, 37 legionnaires had left the Russian Premier League, which includes 16 clubs, and 23 new foreign players have replaced them, according to the Moscow daily Sport Express. But most of those who have left were top-rated European players, and their replacements are lesser-known players from South America and Serbia.

“A year ago, the league was replenished with players from dozens of different countries, but now there is no such wide choice. In terms of newcomers, Brazil and Serbia are in the lead – countries that have always willingly sent footballers to Russia. The difference is that before they were one of many donors, and now they are almost the only ones,” the paper said.

Some Russians, such as Soviet-era basketball legend Stanislav Yeremin, argue that the crisis should be treated as an opportunity to develop Russian sports and forge new links with countries that will still compete with Russians.

“Look forward,” Mr. Yeremin told the Sport MK newspaper. “I don’t think that we will be in Europe for at least two or three years. Therefore, we need to turn to the Russian market, or try to look for opportunities for international competitions with those countries and clubs that could still play with us. If you close yourself in, then it will be difficult.”

Russian sports have been isolated before – excluded from international competition from the Russian Revolution in 1917 until 1952.  “There was no way to compare our level, and so we were left completely outside normal development of sports” says Mr. Yeremenko. “I don’t believe in any claims that this situation can work to our advantage. Progress is only possible when the strongest compete with the strongest. Sports can’t develop under sanctions.

“It’s very hard to say what we should do now. When you have the ideology of a besieged fortress, everything gets all mixed up.”

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It exposed the vulnerabilities of marginalized athletes and revived dialogue about safe conditions for Black lesbian women worldwide.

Griner’s story, ultimately, is not just about basketball or detention; it’s a testament to how athletic fame, identity, and global politics are increasingly, and hazardously, intertwined.

**Summary: Brittney Griner’s Detention, Political Implications, and Aftermath**

**Background:**
Brittney Griner, a star American basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possessing cannabis oil.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

Her arrest coincided with heightened U.S.-Russia tensions due to the invasion of Ukraine, raising immediate suspicions that her case would be used politically.

**Political Implications:**
Griner’s case quickly moved beyond routine law enforcement.

The Russian government appeared to use her status as a high-profile American and LGBTQ athlete to gain leverage over the United States.

Her detainment became a diplomatic tool, with American officials and activists noting the disproportionate sentence and strict conditions she faced compared to typical cases.

Griner was explicitly referenced in international negotiations, and Russian state media coverage fueled narratives of Western hypocrisy and weakness.

Title:

Content: In the Voronezh colonies plan to open six theater studios
By September, theater studios for convicts will be opened in six correctional institutions of the Voronezh region.
This was recently stated by the Deputy head of the UFSIN for the region Roman Gorshkov.
The organization of such studios in local colonies is considered as the initial stage of preparation for the First Regional Festival of Amateur Theater Art among convicts “Freedom of Creativity ”.
It should be held in the spring of 2024 with the financial support of Rosmolodezh
“The project of social adaptation of convicts by the methods of theatrical art over the years of implementation in IK-2 and SIZO-3 has proved to be an effective method of increasing discipline among convicts, their desire for socially useful activities and collective work, ” explained Roman Gorshkov. – Naturally, any positive experience should be replicated at least at the regional level.
The opening of theater studios and the subsequent holding of a festival among convicts will create a good platform for healthy competition among institutions and will entail a responsible approach to classes. ”
According to the Federal Penitentiary Service, “the first thing that new artists have to do is to pass an educational program on training materials created by teachers and the project team. ”
Further, the convicts will be offered to choose a play for staging and a rehearsal process.
Also, the department said that in the house of culture of the Ostrogozhsky district held a meeting of employees of the units of the Federal Penitentiary Service in the Voronezh region, executing punishments not related to isolation from society.
In the first half of 2023, 14 places for convicts to forced labor were created in the region.
At the same time, work is underway to organize an “isolated site functioning as a correctional center on the basis of a large industrial enterprise. ”
In total, so far in the Voronezh region, five units have been created that carry out criminal penalties in the form of forced labor, designed for 674 places.
How the former players of the Russian national football team spent their leisure time culturally in the Belgorod colony, in the material “B-Chernozemye ”.
Vladimir Zorky
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Her eventual release was achieved via a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer.

This exchange, which involved intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity, drew both relief and criticism in the U.S.: while many celebrated Griner’s freedom, others questioned trading her for a figure nicknamed “the Merchant of Death.” The highly publicized exchange can be seen as emblematic of how international politics, sports celebrity, and gender intersect—a Black, openly queer female athlete becoming a pawn in superpower diplomacy.

**Experiences in Russian Prison:**
Details since Griner’s release, including references to her forthcoming memoir (“Return Home”), reveal the trauma of her experience.

Russian penitentiaries are known for harsh conditions; Griner faced isolation, uncertainty about her fate, language barriers, and detention in a penal colony, which differs radically from Western incarceration practices.

Doubts about basic safety, medical care, and physical well-being were ever-present, compounding the psychological ordeal of being a political bargaining chip.

Title:

Content: Insurance companies have expressed concerns about possible financial losses of billions of dollars in connection with the upcoming elections in the United States and Europe
Elections in the US and Europe: insurance companies predict billions of losses
2: 00.
According to the report of the insurer, political violence has a significant financial impact, reports the publication Tagesspiegel.
Experts of the industrial insurance company Alliance Commercial consider as a potential risk not only the possible growth of extremist and populist movements, but also the radicalization of environmental activists and opponents of climate policy.
The published report cites an example of how the economic losses from political unrest in the seven leading countries since 2018 have exceeded $13 billion.
More than half of the world ’ s population is expected to take part in elections this year, including the US presidential election, European elections and regional elections in parts of Germany.
In the US, even modest results can increase political tension.
The upcoming European Parliament elections could also deepen polarization in the EU if right-wing parties gain more influence.
The company, among other things, offers insurance against potential riots, and assesses the risks and costs involved.
Compensation specialists see a threat not only from the legal side.
Riots are expected to increase, especially in the context of environmental issues, by both activists and opponents of state climate policy.
In Germany, this year ’ s elections are taking place in a tense social climate, with slowing economic growth, farmers ’ protests, strikes and a climate crisis.
The European Football Championship attracts mass gatherings of people in open areas, which can become a platform for potential criminals.
France stands out in estimating the cost of political unrest among seven countries.
According to the Alliance, the protests of the “yellow vests ” in 2018 brought losses of $1.1 billion.
Author Victoria Gusakova
Victoria Gusakova – journalist, correspondent of the Pravda.Ru news service

**U.S. Government’s Response:**
The U.S. government labeled Griner “wrongfully detained” and prioritized her case at the highest diplomatic levels.

The Biden administration was under pressure from advocacy groups, the sports world, and the public to secure her release.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

Negotiations took months, with updates often relayed through international media rather than direct communication.

Title:

Content: Lokomotiv does not end the Germans
The next head coach of the club was Josef Zinnbauer
Moscow “Lokomotiv ” for the fourth time in eight months changed the head coach, appointing to this post absolutely mysterious from the point of view of the potential of the specialist – Joseph Zinnbauer, who previously worked in South Africa.
Technically, Zinnbauer replaced the Russian Zaur Hapov.
But in fact, the railwaymen, who took sixth place in the last championship of Russia, continued the “German line ” with this appointment.
For most of the previous season, they were led in turn by two compatriots of Zinnbauer: first, Marcus Gisdol, and after his departure from Russia against the background of Russia ’ s military special operation in Ukraine, Marvin Compper, who did not have a coaching license for the elite category, kept his job at the club.
Moscow “Lokomotiv ” announced that“ reached an agreement ” with Josef Zinnbauer, according to which the German before the start of the Russian championship on July 15 will receive the post of head coach of the club.
Reporting this news, railway sports director Thomas Zorn noted that in the person of 52-year-old Zinnbauer, Lokomotiv “strengthened the coaching staff ” with a specialist with“ good experience in diverse championships ”.
According to Zorn, his candidacy also took into account the fact that Josef Zinnbauer “has serious experience working with young people ” and“ shares the principles of the game ”, which the management of the club wants to see in his performance.
This is remarkable because of two circumstances.
One of them is that this is the fourth change of mentor at Lokomotiv in eight months.
The first took place in October 2021, when the Serb Marko Nikolic was replaced by the German Markus Gisdol.
However, with him, Lokomotiv spent only eight matches in the national championship.
Gisdol left the railwaymen immediately after the end of the winter break in the championship against the background of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, acting in the same way as many other foreign specialists in the domestic sports industry.
The position of acting head coach in the team went to Dmitry Loskov, a famous former Lokomotiv midfielder.
But he lost it after four championship matches, formally losing the post to club goalkeeper coach Zaur Hapov.
In fact, the leaders of Lokomotiv did not hide that they continue to adhere to the “German line ” and the team in the status of senior coach is headed by assistant Gisdol Marvin Compper.
To turn into a full-fledged mentor, he was prevented by the lack of a coaching license of the Pro category, which allows him to have such a status at the elite level.
Having a tandem from Hapov with Compper at the head, Lokomotiv failed to improve the situation in the national championship and finished in it in a rather low sixth position for itself, although only five points from the prize three.
Lokomotiv, informing about the contract with Josef Zinnbauer, said that both Zaur Hapov and Marvin Compper remain at the club.
And about Compper trying to get a Pro license, Thomas Zorn said that the invitation of compatriot “will not affect his role. ”
Another circumstance that makes the news about the contract of Lokomotiv with Josef Zinnbauer extremely curious is his biography.
Leading Russian clubs have recently been accustomed to the fact that they are happy to entrust the coaching post to foreigners with a frankly controversial or mysterious background.
But even against the general background, Zinnbauer seems to be a mysterious character, in no way inferior in this sense, for example, to a very young Spaniard Guillermo Abascal, who came to take Spartacus out of the crisis.
Josef Zinnbauer began coaching while still a player, and completely concentrated on it in the middle of the decade before last.
However, to become a coach of a solid club, he had to wait a long time.
In the fall of 2014, Zinnbauer was transferred from the position of youth coach of Hamburg to the main team, which found itself in the basement of the German championship table.
To German experts, he seemed a promising figure for a while.
The trend was to write about his abilities as a “motivator ” and the ability to integrate into the composition of young players (relevant, apparently, for Lokomotiv, which for a year parted with almost all veterans, forming a basis more than half consisting of players in their twenties).
But, having issued several good matches, Hamburg soon surrendered and again fell into the outsider niche, and Zinnbauer was sent back to the double.
There he did not stay, leaving to coach the Swiss "St. Gallen", which with him did not make any loud take-offs.
After that, about Joseph Zinnbauer in Europe almost did not remember – for quite understandable reason.
Zinnbauer went where he rarely brings the sought-after and ambitious coaches from the leading European leagues - to Africa, to the club from South Africa, "Orlando Pirates".
In it, he found himself in 2019, immediately raised the team from 11th place in the championship to third, and then won with it the first trophy in six years, winning the so-called MTN8 tournament – a competition for South African giants.
Leaving Orlando last summer, the success of which is still hardly worth projecting on the Russian Premier League, no matter how rapidly its rating drops, Zinnbauer referred to the desire to see his family more often.
Alexey Dospekhov
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Griner’s family and supporters campaigned tirelessly for her return, leveraging her celebrity status for visibility.

Title:

Content: Distant forest
Blog
“How much courage does it take to speak in front of people who can do almost anything in our country? ”
Babikov stood up for Federmesser
The biathlete is also against the amendments of the state Duma to the law “On psychiatric care ”.
The off-season of the world champion in biathlon Anton Babikov is unusual: he did not get into the national team and prepares for the season on his own, together with two Alexander – Loginov and Povarnitsyn.
At the same time, Babikov finds time on the social agenda - delves into and confidently states the position (not for the first time).
He was one of the first to post a story with a frame from the State Duma: a discussion of the bill with the participation of Anna (Nyuta) Federmesser, the founder of the hospice aid fund “Vera ”.
Interest in such a topic is extremely atypical for a Russian athlete.
We talked about this with Anton, who not only observes from the outside, but also helps the fund.
First, about the essence of the bill for those who do not know.
Psychoneurological boarding school (PNI) is an institution in which people with mental disabilities who need care are permanently or temporarily: elderly, graduates of orphanages or children.
Important: PNI is not a psychiatric clinic, so far the staff there had no authority to restrict movement, lock, bind, forcibly give medicines.
Nyuta Federmesser in recent years has been closely involved in the topic of PNI.
She lived in one of the boarding schools for nine days and this spring reported that seven children died of exhaustion in the Penitentiary No. 10 of St. Petersburg.
Against this background, the State Duma Committee on Health Protection discussed amendments to the federal law “On psychiatric care ”.
However, the reform of the PNI did not go in the direction that Federmesser and other public figures expected.
Article 38 will be removed from the law, which obliges the state to create an independent service for the protection of the rights of patients in medical organizations.
This article allowed public organizations to receive complaints from patients of the PNI, to send them to the prosecutor's office or the court.
Managers and medical staff have the authority to take away the guests ’ phones, limit their social circle, complicate the process of discharge from the PNI.
An open letter to Vladimir Putin demanding a veto on amendments to the law “On psychiatric care ” was signed by more than 43 thousand people.
The State Duma Committee approved the amendments in three readings, they were adopted by the Federation Council.
Here is Federmesser ’ s emotional speech at the first reading of the amendments in the State Duma Committee.
She is opposed by Alexander Zhukov, the former head of the ROC, and now its honorary president and first deputy chairman of the State Duma.
Zhukov: If you want that as 30 years did not work 38th article, and even further did not work...
FEDERMESSER: We suggest that we postpone this until autumn.
Well, no one's after you.
It really is the fate of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people.
And you and me, too.
ZHUKOV: So this law is adopted exclusively in the interests of patients just.
Federmesser: No.
Otherwise, you are just now saying that 30,000 people who signed a letter to the president are signing a letter against their interests and the interests of their seriously ill relatives.
Zhukov: They sign what you explained to them, which does not always coincide with what is written in the law.
FEDERMESSER: Please read the text of the letter.
What did we explain to them?
If, for the sake of decency, one of you would abstain...
You are the legislative branch, and you think – absolutely! – that you should depend on the executive branch.
How is it possible?
The Committee proceeded to vote, the amendments were adopted.
Federmesser: I once again thank Alexander Dmitrievich and Badma Nikolaevich (Deputy Bashankayev – Sports.ru) for the fact that you spent time on us.
And I think that I will no longer deal with federal legislation at all, because we all – by your efforts – live in a country where laws are written and not respected.
Where laws are voted – crazy at all – because you think they won ’ t affect you and your families.
Zhukov: Anna Konstantinovna....
I am so ashamed of this thought!
Terribly shameful!
And now – a monologue by Anton Babikov on an important topic
* * *
– Ideally, the topic of hospices and PNI should be interested in everyone.
It is good when the problem is familiar even before it affects you or your loved ones.
It can touch anyone at all.
Even in Ufa, I worked with charitable foundations.
Then I learned from good people about the Vera Foundation (it helps terminally ill people - Sports.ru) and began to help them as much as possible.
A lot of people think that helping is just giving money.
But there are a lot of ways that are not related to finance, it only takes time and desire.
Now I live in Moscow, there are chat rooms of volunteers.
Sometimes someone arrives, for example, for treatment, and you need to meet or take on a tour.
In fact, we have more free time than we think.
If you have a couple of hours, it ’ s better to do something useful to someone than just hang out over a movie, although I love movies too.
But the feeling that you helped someone, nothing compares to anything.
I don ’ t like to talk about it and I don ’ t think I ’ m doing anything special.
I could and would like to help more.
Of course, I didn ’ t say I was playing sports.
Who the hell am I?
Among those who help foundations, there are people with much cooler merits.
I like that in this environment it doesn't matter who you are.
More importantly, what you are.
Nyuta Federmesser is an amazing person.
I read her book “Correspondence with everyone ” about what life in hospice is like, how charity works in general.
It is impossible to argue with the fact that Nyuta understands the topic and understands what he stands for.
Therefore, when I saw what had happened in the State Duma, I had no doubt whether it was worth it to post it at home or not.
Can you imagine how much courage and sincerity it takes to speak in front of people who in our country can almost everything?
Do you think someone who is not 100% sure of what they are doing?
Some subscribers wrote to me that Nyuta is a con artist.
I think the scammer will just look at how the neighbor voted, and do the same.
To object, you need an iron character.
Only for this one can she be respected.
There is nothing personal, we are not familiar with Nyuta, and I only saw Alexander Dmitrievich Zhukov a couple of times at events when he was still president of the Russian Olympic Committee.
None of them know exactly who I am.
I was surprised that my story was so popular.
This story was viewed by many more people than usual in my profile – for example, about training.
So Nyuta's words hurt a lot of people.
Perhaps among these people will be those who are able to really influence the situation.
That was my goal.
Some have told me that I have disappointed them.
Like, they believed that I was a thinking athlete, but it turned out that I was not.
I am not arguing here, everyone has the right to an opinion.
But my opinion about Nyuta, the fund and the reform of the PNI is formed.
I have enough information, and I don't seem to be mistaken.
Perhaps I still hope that a miracle will happen and the amendments to the law on PNI will not be adopted.
If you do not believe that one person can change something, how do you even live?
“The changes in the world are always catastrophic for ordinary people. ”
Interview with Anton Babikov, where biathlon is not the main thing
Photo: instagram / nuikartoshkanyuta _ federmesserRIA Novosti / Alexey Filippov

**Return and Readjustment:**
Following her release, Griner began a process of reintegration at home, which included both public relief and intense scrutiny.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

She resumed her WNBA career but also spoke out about the traumatic nature of her incarceration and the importance of advocating for other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

Her experience underscored issues of race, gender, and sexuality in sports and geopolitics, sparking wider conversations about athlete activism, state power, and the unique risks faced by marginalized sports figures on the global stage.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

Griner’s story is thus not just a tale of individual survival, but a potent reminder of how public figures—especially women and minorities—can be entangled in the broader games of international politics.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
Comments

**Nuggets of Information on Brittney Griner’s Detention and Aftermath:**

1.

Title:

Content: 10 months in prison in Russia.
American basketball player releases book on 'cruel' memoirs
SPORTS
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / v421
Basketball player Britney Grainer announced on Tuesday that she is preparing a book about her 10-month imprisonment in Russia until December 2023, after being released in an exchange deal between Moscow and Washington.
Britney Grainer said: “That day in February was the beginning of an incomprehensible period in my life, and I ’ m now ready to share it.
The main reason I returned to Russia at the time was that I wanted my wife (lesbian), family and colleagues to be proud of me.
After 10 very difficult months behind bars, I am grateful that I have been rescued and that I am at home.
Readers will listen to my story and understand why I am so grateful for the support of people from all over the world. ”
The book of the American national team player and the UMMC team from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2024.
In February 2022, Britney Grainer was detained at Moscow ’ s Sheremetyevo International Airport on charges of attempting to smuggle drugs into Russia.
The Moscow District Court of Khimki sentenced the American basketball player to 9.5 years in prison and a fine of 1 million rubles (about $20,000) after she was convicted of smuggling and keeping drugs – hashish oil.
Britney Greiner, who was detained in Russia from February to December 2023, was released in an exchange deal with Russian businessman Viktor Bout, and the exchange took place at Abu Dhabi airport, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Britney Grainer, 32, won the 2014 Basketball World Cup in Turkey, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the 2018 World Cup in Spain and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Prior to her arrest, she played for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
Source:
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**Griner’s Detention and Incarceration in Russia:**
   - Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 and spent 10 months incarcerated.

Title:

Content: American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
Michael Jordan sports shoes sold for a record $2.2 million
American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
NEW YORK (AFP) - Sotheby ’ s on Tuesday announced the sale of NBA legend Michael Jordan ’ s sneakers in his last championship final with the Chicago Bulls in 1998 for a record $2.2 million.
At this price, the former Bulls star confirms his reputation as the king of sportswear auctions that are bought in order to keep them in a sports collection, breaking his record for sneakers ($1.4 million in 2021).
He holds the record for the most expensive shirt ($10.1 million in September 2022).
Jordan wore the black and red Air Jordan 13 shoe in the second game of the final round, at Salt Lake City Stadium, an episode narrated in the successful documentary The Last Dance released in 2020 on Netflix and ESPN.
Although the stadium stands were full of Utah Jazz fans, the Bulls won 93-88 thanks to Jordan's 37 points.
Give me a shoe.
Shotheby's estimated the price of the shoes between $2 million and $4 million, pointing out that Jordan gave the shoes after the game to one of the people collecting balls, but the latter is no longer the owner at the moment of sale.
Showbiz did not immediately disclose any information about the seller or buyer.
Basketball star Britney Grainer said on Tuesday she was preparing a book about her 10-month imprisonment in Russia until December, when she was released after a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington.
The book, whose name is not yet known, is due to be published in 2024, according to Alfred A.
Britney Grainer describes a harsh, surreal experience and terrifying aspects of everyday life in Russia.One of the most prominent LGBT people, Grainer was arrested for drug trafficking when she arrived in Russia in February 2022 to play for the Yekaterinburg team at the end of the NFL season, a common practice among women basketball players. She was released after lengthy negotiations in exchange for the release of Russian arms dealer Victor Bout who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.Grainer said her arrest was the beginning of an unimaginable period in my life, so I wasn ’ t ready to talk about it until then.
The only reason I went to Russia for my job was to make my wife, family and colleagues proud of me.
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She was accused of possessing marijuana vape cartridges at a Moscow airport.

- Griner describes her experience as “the beginning of an incomprehensible period in my life,” marking her arrest and imprisonment as deeply traumatic and life-altering.

- During her stay in the Russian penal system, she endured harsh conditions, a situation made more fraught as an LGBTQ+ woman and high-profile American athlete.

Title:

Content: Putin Arrests Senior Intelligence Officers
Is there an internal coup in Russia?
0.
The British newspaper “The Times ” reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, has arrested a number of senior officers within the Russian intelligence service FSB.
Putin arrests top intelligence officers
The head of Russian intelligence has been placed under house arrest, a sign that President Putin is seeking to blame the security services for the faltering invasion of Ukraine.
The Times said Sergei Beseda, head of the FSB ’ s foreign intelligence branch, was arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh.
According to a leading expert in the Russian security services.
Andrei Soldatov, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Agentura, an investigative website that monitors Russia ’ s Federal Security Service and other agencies, said.
Sources within the Federal Security Service confirmed the detention of the two men.
Vladimir Osishkin, an exiled Russian human rights activist, confirmed the arrests.
He added that FSB officers conducted searches at more than 20 addresses around Moscow of colleagues suspected of having contacts with journalists.
Osishkin stated that the official basis for conducting these searches is to charge the detainees with embezzling funds intended for subversive activities in Ukraine.
But he said the real reason was that they were providing “unreliable, incomplete and partly false information about the political situation in Ukraine. ”
It might interest you, too.
"The arrest of the intelligence chief underscores Putin's growing anger at his intelligence services, which he believes have provided false information about the situation in Ukraine," Soldatov told The Times, adding that Putin "finally realized that he had been misled."
Beseda, 68, is the head of Russia ’ s Fifth Service intelligence branch and is in charge of intelligence gathering in Ukraine.
Bolyukh, 66, is in charge of the operational information department, one of the departments of the 5th arrondissement.
There are reports that several military commanders have been dismissed.
The head of the Ukrainian Security Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said on Thursday that "about eight leaders" of Russia had been sacked.
The attack on Ukraine began on February 24.
Soldatov told the newspaper that this week it was revealed that the final reports issued by the Federal Security Office on Ukraine in the run-up to the war.
It was “simply untrue. ”
This is one of the reasons why the Russians were unable to achieve what they were aiming for as planned.
He said their assessments of Ukrainian popular support for the Russian attack and the extent of the country ’ s resistance were “terribly wrong. ”
London has become a graveyard for the riches of the rich Russians.
In another context, the British capital has turned into a graveyard of the wealth of the rich Russians, or what the Western media calls “Putin ’ s oligarchy. ”
The capital of the fog has been a favorite destination for Russian businessmen, to invest and buy luxury real estate.
Gradually, the list of businessmen covered by the British sanctions expands from confiscation of money and property, to prohibition of entry into the country and prosecution.
The British Foreign Office has announced the list of Russian individuals who have been sanctioned by the government over the war in Ukraine.
These are seven of the richest Russian businessmen who have property or financial investments in Britain or have financial assets passing through the financial district of London.
In total, 18 Russian businessmen have been sanctioned by the UK.
The British Foreign Office justified its decision that these figures are one of the long and important arms with which Russian President Vladimir Putin moves, or that they belong to the narrow circle of the president.
(Source: The Times – Translated by Homeland)
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**Reasons for Being in Russia:**
   - Prior to her arrest, Griner played for the Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Pursuing a professional career overseas is common among WNBA athletes, who seek higher salaries and more playing opportunities.

- She returned to Russia post-WNBA season, motivated by a sense of responsibility toward her wife, family, and colleagues, expressing a desire “to make them proud.”

3.

**Political Implications and Use as a Pawn:**
   - Griner’s detention occurred against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-Russia tensions, especially after the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

Her status as a Black, queer, American female athlete added symbolic weight.

- Russia’s decision to detain and later convict Griner carried political overtones, as her arrest became a flashpoint in deteriorating bilateral relations, with many observers believing she was used as leverage.

Title:

Content: Saturday 3 June 2023 Abu Dhabi UAE
Prayer times
News Highlights
Today 's Issue
Today 's Issue
United Arab Emirates
TRENDS and the Russian Presidential Academy sign a memorandum of cooperation
Mohammed Ali during a meeting with the Russian delegation (source)
June 3, 2023 01: 11
Abu Dhabi (Union)
The Trends Research and Consulting Center and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) signed a memorandum of cooperation, which outlines ways of coordination and cooperation in scientific fields in order to achieve their common goals in supporting scientific research efforts.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of the Trends Research and Consulting Center, and by the Russian Presidential Academy by Paulina Nemirovchenko, Vice President of the Presidential Academy.
The agreement, which was signed at the Dubai headquarters of TRENDS, aims to enhance cooperation and coordination between the two sides in scientific research, joint activities and seminars, as well as the exchange of experts and researchers.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali welcomed this partnership, explaining the keenness of Trends Center to enhance cooperation with think tanks and research and academic institutions, especially international ones, which share the goals and visions, pointing out that the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is one of the largest and most important academic and scientific institutions in the field of economics and public administration. Positive on the promotion of Trends forward-looking studies and constructive cooperation between the two parties in the production of solid scientific outputs.
For her part, Polina Nemirovchenko, Vice President of the Academy, expressed her pleasure to cooperate with Trends Research and Consulting Center, as one of the most important think tanks in the region, and said that cooperation with him will enrich the research of both sides and facilitate the delivery and dissemination of knowledge to the fullest extent.
All rights reserved to Al Ittihad Newspaper 2023 ©

**U.S. Government’s Response and Prisoner Swap:**
   - The U.S. government engaged in extensive diplomatic efforts to secure her release, facing public pressure and criticism over the progress and prioritization of her case.

- Ultimately, she was freed in December 2022 as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange, swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The swap reflected difficult moral and political calculations, drawing both relief for Griner’s freedom and controversy over the exchange itself.

Title:

Content: Rami Makhlouf ’ s son hangs out with stolen Syrian money with an Israeli model (Video)
0.
In a video that caused widespread uproar among Syrians on social media, Ali is the son of Rami Makhlouf, a Syrian businessman and cousin of Bashar al-Assad.
He hangs out in the streets of America with an Israeli model.
The reason for the video was a conversation between American YouTuber Daniel Mack and an anonymous wealthy man he met on one of California ’ s most important shopping streets.
Who usually meets the rich and asks them about their livelihood.
Daniel Mack did not know that the video he posted on Oct. 3 would make a big splash in the Middle East, particularly in Syria.
which has been ravaged by nearly a decade of civil war.
Rami Makhlouf 's son
Syrian activists noticed that the handsome young man was driving a Ferrari 488 Spider with 670 horsepower.
Priced at between $260,000 and $330,000, Ali is none other than the son of Syrian businessman Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The girl who was sitting next to him, activists said, was an Israeli model based in Los Angeles, Michelle Idan, 21.
Makhlouf Sr. has been one of the economic pillars of the Syrian regime for decades and owns Syriatel, the largest telecommunications company in Syria.
In addition to shares in the electricity, oil, real estate and banking sectors.
Syrians accuse him of looting their money, taking advantage of his kinship with the Assad family.
Recently, there has been a conflict between the two sides over money and taxes.
Video of Makhlouf 's son with the Israeli model
The video caused a lot of uproar and many active Syrians on social media expressed their annoyance at “showing off ” and“ hanging around. ”
The son of Makhlouf with “stolen Syrian money. ”
One said the price of the car could sustain thousands of destitute Syrians for months, and another noticed the price of the pants he was wearing.
(more than $1,300), which is equivalent to the salary of more than 50 senior Syrian officials or a few hundred regular employees, and requires one of them to save five years ’ work salary to collect.
For his part, Syrian activist and media activist Omar Madaniya tweeted: “Assad and his entourage have stolen Syria and their children are living in luxury, on the other hand, Shabiha al-Assad.
They are killed to defend Assad and go to hell with their children below the poverty line. ”
Syrian journalist Faisal al-Qasim also wrote: “Supporters of (the Assad regime) on the Syrian coast.
You gave your livers as martyrs on the altar of Al-Bahrazi.
Enjoy your eyes on Rami Makhlouf ’ s son as he drives around in a Ferrari in Los Angeles, the land of imperialism and Zionism. ”
“They laugh at you with slogans of resistance while they are in the arms of imperialism.
You die of hunger while they trade your children and for your livelihood. ”
“This is Ali, Rami Makhlouf ’ s son, walking around in a Ferrari in Los Angeles with his imperialist girlfriend.
There is no doubt that you remember what Rami Makhlouf said at the beginning of the revolution that the security of Israel is the security of the Syrian regime. ”
Faisal Al-Qasim added: “To be honest, the Syrian regime has been able to deceive us for 50 years with the lie of the conflict with imperialism and Zionism, and then we discovered after half a century that he is the biggest agent of Zionism in the region.
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Content: Moroccan journalist Aziza Knight C gives the start of a documentary on women ’ s football
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**Griner’s Adjustment and Reflections:**
   - Following her release, Griner publicly expressed gratitude for global support, underscoring how the experience reshaped her outlook on freedom, identity, and the broader issues faced by wrongfully detained individuals.

- She plans to publish a memoir (set for release in 2024) recounting her ordeal, aiming to inform and move readers by sharing the intimate details of her captivity and the broader context of international politics, gender, and sports.

- Her story is emblematic of how women in sports—especially those from marginalized communities—can become pawns in geopolitical contests, making visible the intersection of sexism, racism, and political power.

**Summary Conclusion:**
Brittney Griner’s ordeal in Russia highlights the precarious intersection of sports, gender, sexuality, and geopolitics.

Her detention mobilized international outcry and forced a reckoning with how governments manipulate the fates of prominent individuals for political gain.

As Griner reintegrates into public life, her narrative becomes a powerful testament to both the vulnerabilities and the enduring strength of women athletes navigating a volatile world.

Title:

Content: Good heart incarnate bold design watch playing roulette listen to the Godfather theme song
Post Date: February 14, 2024
Do you have to love a set of movies to put all the elements of the movie in a watch and wear it at all times?
Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabo and son Benjamin have a unique love for the "Godfather" film, 2022 to take advantage of the film's 50th anniversary, the special launch of the Opera Godfather 50th Anniversary watch, the movie classic scene - the protagonist Michael married in Sicily, brother Sonny was shot in the car scene, and the grudging film theme song, all placed in the watch. Film tribute.
Jacob & Co. recently opened a store at The Peninsula Hong Kong, bringing the Opera Godfather 50th Anniversary watch and a series of new watches to Hong Kong.
The new store opened in partnership with Cortina Watch, the brand ’ s 10th independent point of sale in the world.
It is also the brand ’ s fourth store in Asia after Japan, Korea and Malaysia.
Known for innovative and complex designs that transcend the boundaries of traditional watchmaking, the brand ’ s choice to open a store on the Peninsula also highlights the brand ’ s premium positioning.
The shop is decorated mainly in black and white, and the modern space design is matched with silver highlights, continuing the unified aesthetics of other independent sales outlets in Asia, and incorporating the Art Deco elements that founder Jacob Arabo loved.
Jacob & Co. The 4th branch in Asia
The charm of Jacob & Co. watches is not only reflected in technological innovation, but also often made into high-class jewelry watches with bold designs from a variety of gems, while providing customization services for guests pursuing luxury and personalized design.
When the new store opened, a number of highly sought after limited edition works were displayed in the store.
Among them, the Casino Tourbillon watch is driven by the brand ’ s hand-wound JCAM51 movement, 44 mm in diameter, and is equipped with an 18K rose gold case.
The complex and precise movement consists of 268 parts and 24 gems, providing a 72-hour power reserve.
The fascinating tourbillon, which rotates every minute, is clearly visible from the 6 o ’ clock position on the base of the watch.
When the button at 8 o ’ clock is activated, you can enjoy the rapid rotation of the dial shape, and there is a small white bead on the top, so that everyone can play with the dial.
The dial is made of a mirror-polished black agate with a 5N gold, white Super-LumiNova coated pointer.
The watch cleverly combines the feeling of art and luxury, with only 101 pieces, and a brilliant version with diamonds.
The Godfather scene is engraved on the side of the table
Jacob & Co. brand founder Jacob Arabo and CEO Benjamin, both father and son deeply resonate with the classic film “The Godfather ”, and in 2022 specially made the special Opera Godfather 50th Anniversary watch.
This limited edition masterpiece blends timepieces, movies and personal emotions, and even took place at the original location of the film in Sicily, Italy.
The watch is equipped with a three-axis tourbillon with the complex function of a music box, and is decorated with exquisite carvings of 13 classic scenes from the film, such as Sonny Corleone being shot in the car, Michael and his first wife Apollonia getting married, etc., which are more integrated into the famous lines of the film such as "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." The fine workmanship is amazing.
The watch contains two music boxes that play the theme song of the film, capturing the spirit of The Godfather and its irreplaceable place in the history of film.
The watch is packaged in an exclusive gift box, which includes a crystal bottle and a specially designed pen.
The watch was created for the 50th anniversary of the release of this legendary film, so it is limited to 50 pieces.
Inspired by Batman and Bugatti.
In addition to the film, DC Comics is also the inspiration for the brand, and the 46mm Gotham City watch is a tribute to Batman Bruce Wayne.
The case is made of 18K rose gold, reflecting the characteristics of its dark knight, and the movement is equipped with a pair of three-axis tourbillon.
The watch combines dark but naughty elements, in addition to the clever use of a golden cage that complements the case, it also adds a bat logo-shaped dial and a variety of Batman-inspired details, such as the high-speed tourbillon being fixed with a unique bat-shaped bridge plate.
The overall structure of the watch is very complicated, only 36 pieces are made, and there is a black DLC titanium version.
Cars, like watches, are also good for men.
The brand loves the supercar brand Bugatti and has partnered to launch the Jacob & Co. × Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon watch, which is inspired by Bugatti ’ s famous 16-cylinder engine and concentrated under a large sapphire crystal.
The watch ’ s suspension movement consists of 578 components, and the wearer can activate the unique dynamic function through the crown, feeling the pleasure of starting the engine on the wrist: the crankshaft, piston and turbocharger in the watch will act like an engine.
The watch is available in a variety of materials including grade 5 titanium, 18k rose gold, gemstone setting and sapphire crystal styles.
Astronomy Series Panda Themed Craftsmanship
Among the many special editions of watches, the panda themed Astronomia Art Panda watch should be the most popular in the Chinese market.
The watch is made of a uniquely shaped sapphire crystal mirror and 18K rose gold case. The main components include a single-axis tourbillon, a 1-carat Jacob Cut diamond and a magnolia lacquered earth model. The rose gold panda and bamboo surrounding the movement are hand-carved and painted. Like other Astronomia watches, the four “satellites ” on the dial, consisting of Jacob Cut diamonds, etc., rotate at different speeds.
The nine-piece Astronomia Art Panda watch embodies the brand ’ s pursuit of cutting-edge technology, craftsmanship and artistic aesthetics.
●
Enquiry: 2553 3209
Text: Zhang Xiaodong
Edited by: Chien-Hsun Chu
Art: Hsieh Wai-ho
Facebook @ Ming Pao Supplement
Copyright © 2019 Mingpao. All Rights Reserved.
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Related Words: Jewelry Russian Roulette The Peninsula Watch Daily Ming Pao - Supplement

Title:

Content: U.S. basketball center arrested in Russia for possession of marijuana faces 10 years in prison
Author: Zhang Qianyi
Published: Updated:
According to the New York Times, American basketball center Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia last month after being found with cannabis oil and smoking equipment.
The WNBA has publicly expressed its support for Glenna, saying it will do everything in its power to get her back to the United States safely.
Glenna, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury team of the WNBA, helped the U.S. women ’ s basketball team win gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year and is the first player in history to win the WNBA championship.
Gulina was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow in February after she was found carrying cannabis oil and smoking utensils while flying from New York to Russia.
At first, the Russian authorities did not disclose the name of the arrested person, only mentioning "two-time Olympic gold medalist American basketball player", until Russia's TASS news agency revealed the identity of the arrested person: WNBA Phoenix Mercury center Glenna.
Glenna, playing for the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA team, has just won the gold medal for the United States women's basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics, and is the first player in history to win the WNBA championship.
(Getty Images)
A closed-circuit video of the arrest of Gulina, released by the Russian customs authorities, shows that the drug dog smelled something abnormal in her luggage. Customs officers then checked it with an X-ray machine and found cannabis oil and smoking equipment.
According to Russian law, Glynna could face up to five to 10 years in prison.
Gelena ’ s manager said he was aware of Gelena ’ s situation and was in contact with Russian lawyers. Subsequently, the WNBA issued a public statement: “The league will fully support Gelena and will make every effort to get her back home safely. ”
The team, Team USA, also expressed support for Glenna and concern for her personal safety.
At first, the Russian authorities did not release the names of those arrested, only mentioning "two-time Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. basketball players." (Getty Images)
Although the WNBA is the world's top women's basketball league, due to low pay, many players will go to the field during the off-season to "earn extra money".
Gelena is no exception. Since 2014, she has been working part-time in the higher artificial Russian league, and has won four championships, so she travels between the two places from time to time.
Glenna flies from New York to Russia in February. (Getty Images)
Although the WNBA is the world 's top women' s basketball league, due to low pay, many players will go out during the off-season to "earn extra money". (Getty Images)