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US national Griner pleads guilty to attempted smuggle of cannabis oil in Russia

Brittney Griner was detained in February and put in custody until December 20 for an attempt to smuggle cannabis oil into the country via the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow

MOSCOW, July 7. /TASS/. American basketball player Brittney Griner, previously detained in Russia on drug trafficking charges, has pleaded guilty to attempted smuggle of cannabis oil, but said there was no criminal intent, a TASS correspondent reported on Thursday from the Khimki Court in the Moscow Region.

"Miss Griner admits her guilt and says she had no intent of crime carrying baggage with narcotics," her translator said during a court trial.

The next court trial over US national Griner is scheduled for July 14.

Griner was detained in February and put in custody until December 20 for an attempt to smuggle cannabis oil into the country via the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow.

The 31-year-old professional basketball player is a two-time World Champion and a two-time Olympic Champion. Before the arrest, she played for the Russian professional basketball club Yekaterinburg.

In May, the White House announced that steps were being taken by the administration in Washington to free the detained basketball player, but did not specify which exactly.

Commenting later on a potential exchange of Griner in a prisoner swap for Russian entrepreneur Viktor Bout, who was sentenced in the US for selling arms, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov urged patience until the end of legal proceedings on her case.

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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Kiev confirms pulling back US-made Abrams tanks due to vulnerability to Russian UAVs

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Casualties reported after Ukrainian strike on residential house in Zaporozhye Region city

The rescuers are involved in efforts to clear the rubble of a five-story house on Kuibyshev Street

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

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Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

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West again tried to obstruct international security meeting in Russia — security official

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North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

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Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

Israel ready to accept release of fewer than 40 hostages in deal’s first phase — newspaper

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US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

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TASS has put together the highlights of Shoigu's speech

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Senior security official points to rising tensions on Belarus’ western border

Tensions "have reached a peak where the slightest imbalance can lead either to a serious, high-profile and large-scale provocation or a conflict," Pavel Muraveiko stressed

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FSB nabs Neo-Nazi group members in Volgograd Region plotting high-profile terror act

During the questioning, the detainees gave confessionary evidence that sharing the ideas of racial and religious supremacy, they established contact with the ringleaders of the pro-Ukrainian terrorist organization

Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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European Parliament urges EU states to regard Russian presidential vote as illegitimate

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

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Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that insurers conclude on their own that the "explosion at the gas pipelines was made using an explosive devices, willfully and due to political motives," thereby confirming its terroristic nature

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Poland practices transfer of mechanized brigade to Lithuania's Suwalki Corridor area

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Israel Defense Forces delivers more strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon

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Fatah accuses Hamas of actions that led to Israeli control of Gaza — report

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Russia-Europe relations require fresh approach — Kremlin

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

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Russian, Chinese militaries interacting stabilizes world processes — top defense official

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Kremlin unconcerned by European Parliament’s resolution on Russian election

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Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

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Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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One more suspect in Crocus City Hall terror attack arrested — police

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Better situation for peace in Ukraine, threats to Belarus: new statements by Lukashenko

The head of state accused Washington of preparing a "Belarusian liberation army" and reiterated Minsk's readiness to "defend its country"

SCO should unite against foreign attempts to trigger revolutions — Shoigu

"The main emphasis should be placed on the development of military contacts between the SCO and the CSTO,"the Russian defense minister said

Foreign delegations show great interest in Russian defense products — security official

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US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

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Security concerns mount as radical Islamists flock to Southeast Asia

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu added that establishing a security framework in Eurasia will be an important goal for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

US military advisers, if sent to Ukraine, won’t come close to frontlines — Pentagon

"United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines," Patrick Ryder said

Russian foreign minister to meet with Bolivian counterpart in Moscow

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Situation at ZNPP remains unpredictable — International Atomic Energy Agency

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Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

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Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

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Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Moscow, Minsk pushing for peace even as 'war in the air' — Belarusian official

Pavel Muraveiko stressed that "the leaders of Belarus and Russia are doing everything possible and impossible to ensure peace and security on western borders"

Kiev's attacks on ZNPP may trigger another Chernobyl — Zaporozhye governor

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US first caused, now purposefully drags out Ukraine conflict — Shoigu

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