A preliminary hearing for WNBA star Brittany Greener is set for Monday morning in Moscow, her lawyer Alexander Boykov told ABC News.
Grener has been accused of smuggling WAP cartridges into the country, including cannabis oil, from Russia since February 17. The U.S. State Department announced in May that authorities were unjustly detaining him.
Prosecutors in Russia were given a further extension in Grener’s case on June 14, the Russian state news agency TASS had previously reported. U.S. officials and sources close to Grener said they expect Russian courts to extend his custody until an agreement is reached for his release.
On June 13, State Department officials met with colleagues from Grener’s Phoenix Mercury team.
Mercury star Diana Torasi said in a statement issued by the team, “There is a lot involved in bringing him back home and protecting him; They are working hard. “
Last week, the State Department said phone calls between Grener and his wife were being rescheduled after a previous attempt to connect for the couple’s anniversary failed due to a “logistical error.” The State Department and the White House did not give a date for the rescheduled call.
Information from ESPN’s TJ Quinn and The Associated Press was included in the report.