Vladimir Putin demands absolute fealty to the Russian state, and woe to anyone who defies him.
15.08.2022 - 19:19 / etonline.com
Brittney Griner's legal team has appealed against the American basketball star's guilty verdict and nine-year prison sentence on drug smuggling charges in Russia, the lawyers said on Monday.Griner was arrested for carrying vape cartridges containing with marijuana in a Moscow airport in February amid soaring tension between Washington and Moscow, and just before Russian leader Vladimir Putin launched his ongoing assault on Ukraine.The athlete was on her way to Yekaterinburg, in western Russia, to play for a local team during the WNBA's off-season.Griner pleaded guilty to the charge but sought leniency, saying that she packed the cartridges inadvertently and marijuana was prescribed to her by a doctor in the U.S. to help her cope with pain from injuries sustained during her basketball career. In early August, a court in the Moscow region found her guilty.Before her trial began in July, the State Department designated her as being «wrongfully detained,» moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs — effectively the U.S.
government's chief hostage negotiator.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had put forward a «substantial proposal» to Russia for a potential prisoner exchange. According to media reports, the potential swap would see Griner and another U.S.
national, Paul Whelan, swapped in exchange for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer nicknamed the «Merchant of Death» who has been in U.S. custody for over a decade.The Kremlin initially gave a measured response, indicating that no swap would be considered until there was a verdict in Griner's case. Moscow also warned the U.S.
Vladimir Putin demands absolute fealty to the Russian state, and woe to anyone who defies him.
European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) is insisting that EuroPride in Belgrade is not cancelled despite nationalists joining church protests and Serbian President Vučić announcing the cancellation.Three years ago, EPOA had chosen Belgrade as the host for the annual event for 2022. Vučić cancelled the event on the grounds of tensions in Kosovo, along with economic issues within the country.President of EPOA, Kristine Garina has stated that the event would have the opposite effect, boosting the economy.“EuroPride in Belgrade will not be cancelled and will bring together thousands of LGBTI+ people from across Europe with LGBTI+ people from Serbia and the wider western Balkans,” Garina said.The bullies she refers to are the right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ Serbians whose numbers have grown and have become vocal about their opposition to the pride event.Srbija za primer.
Dennis Rodman is planning a trip to Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner. The 31-year-old basketball player - who normally lives in Houston, Texas with wife Cherelle Griner - was arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Russia just days before President Vladimir Putin launched the ongoing invasion on Ukraine and has been sentenced to almost a decade behind bars but her fellow NBA star Dennis, 61, revealed on Sunday (21. 08.
British soldiers have been told they must be ready for a war against Russia by a senior military officer. Warrant Officer Paul Carney has urged troops to inform their loved ones of potential deployment as the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on.
Dennis Rodman is going to take his shot at freeing Brittney Griner.The NBA legend recently revealed his plans to travel to Russian in an effort to seek release for Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for alleged drug possession charges.«I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,» Rodman, 61, told NBC News over the weekend. «I'm trying to go this week.»Rodman added, «I know Putin too well.»Despite Rodman's confidence — and his past independent unsanctioned diplomatic visits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un — the US State Department and White House officials are strongly against the idea.An unnamed senior Biden administration official told NBC News that Rodman's visit is more likely to complicate and already tenuous situation, explaining, «It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts.»However, Rodman does not need permission from the United States to travel to Russia.
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman told NBC News this weekend, not saying exactly who he got permission from. “I’m trying to go this week.”Rodman, who won five NBA titles with Michael Jordan during the ’90s while building an image as the NBA’s party-loving bad boy, has become known in the past decade for rubbing elbows with political figures that have tense relationships with the U.S.
Gareth Gates has posted an emotional tribute to his “dear friend” Darius Danesh, who has died aged 41. Danesh was a Scottish singer and actor who rose to fame on Popstars and Pop Idol, where he competed against Gates in the latter in 2002.
Rylan Clark and Lorraine Kelly are among the first stars to pay tribute to Darius Danesh after the singer and actor who rose to fame on Popstars and Pop Idol died at the age of 41. The Scottish star’s family confirmed on Tuesday (16 August) that Danesh had died on 11 August.