Moscow, Russia - Russia has defended the arrest of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who's currently on trial for alleged drug possession, while also teasing the possibility of granting her amnesty.

"Attempts to portray the case as if the American woman was unlawfully arrested do not stand up to criticism," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexei Zaitsev said in Moscow on Wednesday. "The law was broken."

He said the athlete was accused of a "serious breach of the law," for which she could be punished with up to 10 years in prison.

At the same time, the diplomat said that after a conviction, Griner was free to appeal the judge's decision or to write a petition for clemency. In Russia, anyone who applies for a pardon from the Russian president must also admit their guilt.

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Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 after being accused of having cannabis oil in her luggage. The twice Olympic champion and star of the Phoenix Mercury WNBA team plays in Russia in the US off-season.

She has been remanded in custody for four and a half months, which has just been extended until December 20. Her trial started last Friday.

US officials are convinced her arrest was politically motivated amid a deterioration in relations between Moscow and Washington following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, a handwritten letter by Griner was delivered to President Joe Biden. In it, the 31-year-old pleaded for help, saying: "Please do all you can to bring us home. 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."

Biden is expected to respond today, with one administration official telling NBC News that the reply will come either in writing or through a phone call.

The source also said the drawn-out case isn't likely to be resolved anytime soon, and certainly not before Griner's trial is over.

The White House said President Biden spoke with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, by phone on Wednesday after receiving the basketball star's letter and assured her he is "working to secure her release as soon as possible."

The press release doubled down that Griner "is wrongfully detained" and that the president was also working on the release of Paul Whelan and other US nationals "who are held hostage around the world."

Biden also read Griner's wife a draft of a response letter he is sending back to Brittney later on Wednesday.