It seems that the hopes of getting out of prison soon have vanished for the athlete Brittney Griner, because a court in Moscow, Russia, has just confirmed the sentence of nine years in prison that had been handed down to her, rejecting the appeal filed by her legal team.
According to NBCnewsafter receiving this ratification of her sentence, the WNBA player is expected to be transferred to a penal colony, since she was in a detention center, where she had remained since last February.
Griner was charged with violating article 229.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, a law that criminalizes the illegal possession and smuggling of drugs. In addition to being sentenced to nine years in prison, the Phoenix Mercury player was fined one million rubles (approximately $16,500).
In this last hearing that took place on October 25 of the current year, the athlete appeared virtually, only to find out that the Russian court rejected her appeal, making it more difficult for her to achieve her possible release.
The popular basketball star celebrated his 32nd birthday on October 18; It must have been very sad for her to spend it in prison, away from her country and from her loved ones and now that the Russian justice has denied her acquittal, we assume that this has been a heavy blow for her.
Earlier this year, Griner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport after authorities said they found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. Since then, her family, her legal team and even President Joe Biden have been working to secure her release.
I made an honest mistake and I hope his sentence doesn’t end my life here. My parents taught me two important things: one, take responsibility and two, work hard for everything you have. That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges.
Indeed, in July 2022, the girl pleaded guilty to drug charges, arguing that she had no intention of breaking the law. However, a month later, a Russian court found her guilty of possession and smuggling of drugs, concluding that she committed the crime deliberately.
The National Security Advisor of the administration of President Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, made some statements after the latest decision of the Russian justice was known.
We are aware of the news from Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be unjustly detained in intolerable circumstances after having to undergo yet another bogus court proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney must be released immediately.
Apparently, the hopes of the WNBA player are pinned on the United States government managing to carry out some strategy to rescue her from the hands of Russian justice and bring her back home, something that counselor Sullivan is convinced of. that they can achieve.