Brittney Griner in jail

[Rusozak]

I literally don't care what Right-wingers think.

I’m not saying you should, just that what they collectively think about this case will eventually have an effect on shaping the narrative over whether it’s worth it to trade someone for her

Her comments about America will probably hurt that sympathy. Her wife seems like a piece of work, too. Had a "Why isn't this your number one priority" attitude about Biden.

[Incel Argentina]

It matters a great deal, because whereas right-wing Americans could give a fuck about a Black woman getting arrested on drug charges, they tend to be more sympathetic to American citizens being used as political hostages by violent foreign autocracies, and public pressure is going to determine whether the administration decides she’s worth offering to trade someone. Personally, I think even though it’s fucked up, we shouldn’t offer to trade any arms dealers, but in terms of her case public opinion is going to determine whether the WH ends up thinking it’s politically worth it to make a swap.

I literally don't care what Right-wingers think.

I think that half the population's opinions are important, but you do you I guess.

[Senkaku]

I’m not saying you should, just that what they collectively think about this case will eventually have an effect on shaping the narrative over whether it’s worth it to trade someone for her

Her comments about America will probably hurt that sympathy. Her wife seems like a piece of work, too. Had a "Why isn't this your number one priority" attitude about Biden.

I mean, she’s also in a bad position. Initially it sounds like the family was trying not to draw attention to the case in the hopes it wouldn’t be politicized, but it’s fundamentally political— now they really have no choice but to double down and try to press the administration as hard as they can for a trade. It seems like it’s getting somewhere if Bout’s name is at least getting floated in Politico and whatnot, but it’s a question both of who the Russians actually want and whether the White House thinks a trade would be too big a hit.

[The Orwell Society]

She broke the law and is incarcerated for it. How is that unjust?

The law itself is unjust. And even if the law were just, it is being unjustly applied.

---

But she was not busted for possession but for smuggling, a more serious offense.

And that is very clearly a case of her being grossly overcharged so that she can be held ransom. It is deeply baffling that you people persist in trusting the fucking Russian government on this. Not only are they obviously not trustworthy, what do any of you think Griner was actually doing? Can you offer any explanation for why she would smuggle drugs into Russia? She's already rich, it can't be the money. She's a professional athlete, so it's unlikely that she's such a huge drug fiend that what she packed for personal use would be above the limit for possession.

Excuse me, they were vape cartridges. Vape cartridges. You wonder why she brought them to Russia even though they were illegal? To vape like a rebellious schoolgirl while the authorities weren't looking. Face the facts, it was her fault. They had every right to detain her, she broke their law. What do you think they were supposed to do? Let her go into Russia with illegal contraband?

[Ifreann]

The law itself is unjust. And even if the law were just, it is being unjustly applied.

---

And that is very clearly a case of her being grossly overcharged so that she can be held ransom. It is deeply baffling that you people persist in trusting the fucking Russian government on this. Not only are they obviously not trustworthy, what do any of you think Griner was actually doing? Can you offer any explanation for why she would smuggle drugs into Russia? She's already rich, it can't be the money. She's a professional athlete, so it's unlikely that she's such a huge drug fiend that what she packed for personal use would be above the limit for possession.

Excuse me, they were vape cartridges. Vape cartridges. You wonder why she brought them to Russia even though they were illegal?

You'll note that what I am addressing is the idea that Griner was not simply in possession of drugs, an administrative offence punishable by a small fine or 15 days in jail, but smuggling drugs. Why do people think she would do that? To make money dealing drugs? To do a load of recreational drugs while working as a professional athlete? Some other reason? I would like those who believe the Russian government's claim that Brittney Griner is a drug smuggler to please elaborate on what they believe she was doing smuggling drugs. Because from where I'm sitting it is simply not credible that she would have hashish oil vape cartridges for any reason other than light personal use.

To vape like a rebellious schoolgirl while the authorities weren't looking.

Recreational intoxication is extremely common among adults, rather than simply being the purview of the young.

Face the facts, it was her fault.

She is the victim here. She is being held hostage.

They had every right to detain her, she broke their law.

Governments do not have rights. People have rights.

What do you think they were supposed to do? Let her go into Russia with illegal contraband?

Ideally, yes. Realistically, take a few hundred rubles off her and confiscate her vape cartridges. Or take a few hundred extra rubles and let her keep them.

[Senkaku]

What do you think they were supposed to do? Let her go into Russia with illegal contraband?

Entering Russia with contraband? My God, you’re right, I don’t think anyone has ever risked that before. I’m sure in her previous time playing for Yekaterinburg this never happened, after all the Russians are famously impartial about even the rich and famous not being able to access or smuggle illegal products!

[The Orwell Society]

Excuse me, they were vape cartridges. Vape cartridges. You wonder why she brought them to Russia even though they were illegal?

You'll note that what I am addressing is the idea that Griner was not simply in possession of drugs, an administrative offence punishable by a small fine or 15 days in jail, but smuggling drugs. Why do people think she would do that? To make money dealing drugs? To do a load of recreational drugs while working as a professional athlete? Some other reason? I would like those who believe the Russian government's claim that Brittney Griner is a drug smuggler to please elaborate on what they believe she was doing smuggling drugs. Because from where I'm sitting it is simply not credible that she would have hashish oil vape cartridges for any reason other than light personal use.

To vape like a rebellious schoolgirl while the authorities weren't looking.

Recreational intoxication is extremely common among adults, rather than simply being the purview of the young.

Face the facts, it was her fault.

She is the victim here. She is being held hostage.

They had every right to detain her, she broke their law.

Governments do not have rights. People have rights.

What do you think they were supposed to do? Let her go into Russia with illegal contraband?

Ideally, yes. Realistically, take a few hundred rubles off her and confiscate her vape cartridges. Or take a few hundred extra rubles and let her keep them.

I see your point now but mine still stands. She knew what she was getting her self into. Any decently-knowledgeable person would know that recreational drug possession and use is illegal in Russia. Hell, I'm 15 and I knew that before all this happened! This has little to do with the war, yes, technically she could be a hostage, and her punishment has been a bit harsh, but she had the nerve to purposely break the law in a time like this. And I also disagree that a government has no right. I am not, however, going to get into that, as I have been called very ugly names last time I expressed my view on that topic.

Think about this: if she hadn't started vaping in the first place, this never would have happened!

[Ifreann]

You'll note that what I am addressing is the idea that Griner was not simply in possession of drugs, an administrative offence punishable by a small fine or 15 days in jail, but smuggling drugs. Why do people think she would do that? To make money dealing drugs? To do a load of recreational drugs while working as a professional athlete? Some other reason? I would like those who believe the Russian government's claim that Brittney Griner is a drug smuggler to please elaborate on what they believe she was doing smuggling drugs. Because from where I'm sitting it is simply not credible that she would have hashish oil vape cartridges for any reason other than light personal use.

Recreational intoxication is extremely common among adults, rather than simply being the purview of the young.

She is the victim here. She is being held hostage.

Governments do not have rights. People have rights.

Ideally, yes. Realistically, take a few hundred rubles off her and confiscate her vape cartridges. Or take a few hundred extra rubles and let her keep them.

I see your point now but mine still stands. She knew what she was getting her self into. Any decently-knowledgeable person would know that recreational drug possession and use is illegal in Russia. Hell, I'm 15 and I knew that before all this happened!

Griner has worked in Russia, playing for a basketball team there, since 2014. In all likelihood she is more familiar with the realities of living in Russia than most of us.

This has little to do with the war, yes, technically she could be a hostage, and her punishment has been a bit harsh,

She has been detained for months and is facing years in a penal colony entirely because the Russians want to pressure America into releasing a Russian prisoner.

but she had the nerve to purposely break the law in a time like this.

She was arrested before the invasion of Ukraine.

And I also disagree that a government has no right. I am not, however, going to get into that, as I have been called very ugly names last time I expressed my view on that topic.

Think about this: if she hadn't started vaping in the first place, this never would have happened!

You understand that she wasn't openly vaping in front of the customs officers, right? FSB searched her luggage.

[Senkaku]

Any decently-knowledgeable person would know that recreational drug possession and use is illegal in Russia. Hell, I'm 15 and I knew that before all this happened!

You, a 15-year-old, would describe yourself as more “knowledgeable” about Russian narcotics enforcement than a professional athlete twice your age who’s been playing there for years?

[The Orwell Society]

Any decently-knowledgeable person would know that recreational drug possession and use is illegal in Russia. Hell, I'm 15 and I knew that before all this happened!

You, a 15-year-old, would describe yourself as more “knowledgeable” about Russian narcotics enforcement than a professional athlete twice your age who’s been playing there for years?

I was not what I was implying that at all. What I was saying was, she knew she was breaking the law, yet she did it anyway. I am not claiming to be smarter than anybody, not at all.

[The Orwell Society]

I see your point now but mine still stands. She knew what she was getting her self into. Any decently-knowledgeable person would know that recreational drug possession and use is illegal in Russia. Hell, I'm 15 and I knew that before all this happened!

Griner has worked in Russia, playing for a basketball team there, since 2014. In all likelihood she is more familiar with the realities of living in Russia than most of us.

This has little to do with the war, yes, technically she could be a hostage, and her punishment has been a bit harsh,

She has been detained for months and is facing years in a penal colony entirely because the Russians want to pressure America into releasing a Russian prisoner.

but she had the nerve to purposely break the law in a time like this.

She was arrested before the invasion of Ukraine.

And I also disagree that a government has no right. I am not, however, going to get into that, as I have been called very ugly names last time I expressed my view on that topic.

Think about this: if she hadn't started vaping in the first place, this never would have happened!

You understand that she wasn't openly vaping in front of the customs officers, right? FSB searched her luggage.

I didn't mean that, concerning your last point. I meant if she hadn't taken up vaping, she couldn't have been caught with them. Yes, I am very anti-drugs, and I really don't like Griner. I didn't before she got arrested and I sure as hell don't like her now.

[Ifreann]

Griner has worked in Russia, playing for a basketball team there, since 2014. In all likelihood she is more familiar with the realities of living in Russia than most of us.

She has been detained for months and is facing years in a penal colony entirely because the Russians want to pressure America into releasing a Russian prisoner.

She was arrested before the invasion of Ukraine.

You understand that she wasn't openly vaping in front of the customs officers, right? FSB searched her luggage.

I didn't mean that, concerning your last point. I meant if she hadn't taken up vaping, she couldn't have been caught with them. Yes, I am very anti-drugs, and I really don't like Griner. I didn't before she got arrested and I sure as hell don't like her now.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion on both Griner and recreational drug use. But surely you can see the injustice in her facing a decade in a penal colony for having a small amount of drugs, realistically only for personal use. It is grossly disproportional.

[Infected Mushroom]

She went to Russia. Broke the law there. And so logically should be sanctioned according to the laws of Russia.

It just seems so simple and straightforward to me I dunno…

[Big Bad Blue]

She broke the law and is incarcerated for it. How is that unjust?

The system that is imprisoning her is unjust. Russia is an authoritarian dictatorship; back in the day my friends who served as US diplomats there made the point that if you were arrested/harassed/followed in Russia, it was because the regime wanted it to happen. It is unrealistic to cite Russian "law" as an excuse for the bad treatment of any individual; particularly a prominent US person during a time of heightened conflict between Russia and the US. Putin is the "law."

[Ifreann]

She went to Russia. Broke the law there. And so logically should be sanctioned according to the laws of Russia.

It just seems so simple and straightforward to me I dunno…

According to the laws of Russia the sanction should be a small fine or 15 days in jail.

[The Zexen Confederacy]

So, from what I'm reading, it says that the usual punishment for having weed in Russia is a fine or 15 days in jail? It's odd to me that she's been held for 4 months over something that carries such a small punishment. Just charge her the hash oil and get it over with.

[American Legionaries]

So, from what I'm reading, it says that the usual punishment for having weed in Russia is a fine or 15 days in jail? It's odd to me that she's been held for 4 months over something that carries such a small punishment. Just charge her the hash oil and get it over with.

As I understand it she wasn't charged for possessing marijuana, but rather smuggling a refined narcotic. I'm not familiar with Russian law, but as recently as ten years ago, my state punished hash oil much steeper than it did marijuana flowers.

[Ethel mermania]

She went to Russia. Broke the law there. And so logically should be sanctioned according to the laws of Russia.

It just seems so simple and straightforward to me I dunno…

According to the laws of Russia the sanction should be a small fine or 15 days in jail.

She was guilty of smuggling not possession.

[Ifreann]

According to the laws of Russia the sanction should be a small fine or 15 days in jail.

She was guilty of smuggling not possession.

According to the same people who say that the dead bodies in Bucha were smuggled in by the Ukrainians.

[Big Jim P]

When visiting a foreign country, obey their laws.

[Kerwa]

The state department did issue an advisory telling US citizens not to go to Russia in Jan. before she was arrested. I’m not sure why anyone cares at this point. Play stupid games etc.

[Ifreann]

The state department did issue an advisory telling US citizens not to go to Russia in Jan. before she was arrested. I’m not sure why anyone cares at this point. Play stupid games etc.

People care because the injustice of this situation is not lessened by state department advice.

[Ethel mermania]

She was guilty of smuggling not possession.

According to the same people who say that the dead bodies in Bucha were smuggled in by the Ukrainians.

So you are just sticking to your narrative no matter the facts.

[Ifreann]

According to the same people who say that the dead bodies in Bucha were smuggled in by the Ukrainians.

So you are just sticking to your narrative no matter the facts.

You have presented no facts, only repeated the claims of the Russian government. Why you believe their claims is beyond me. None of you seem to be able to offer any reasoning for trusting the FSB. None of you seem to be able to offer any explanation for why Griner even would have been smuggling drugs beyond a small amount for personal use.

[Ethel mermania]

So you are just sticking to your narrative no matter the facts.

You have presented no facts, only repeated the claims of the Russian government. Why you believe their claims is beyond me. None of you seem to be able to offer any reasoning for trusting the FSB. None of you seem to be able to offer any explanation for why Griner even would have been smuggling drugs beyond a small amount for personal use.

She was arrested at the airport while coming into the country, she never disputed that. Whether they picked her out for the search cause they knew she did it before or it was a random, honestly we can't know. That said she NEVER disputed the basic facts as presented

I dont ascribe a motive to her, it wouldn't surprise me if she did bring in for her personal use. Doesn't matter, Its still smuggling.