Moscow court upheld Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence
The Moscow Regional Court denied this Tuesday (25.Oct.2022) the request for an appeal by the defense of American basketball player, Brittney Griner. She was sentenced to 9 years in prison, charged with drug trafficking. Griner was detained in February on suspicion of drug trafficking to Russia in addition to illegal drug possession.
The professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury was detained in February at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki, when she went to Russia to compete for the WNBA (Women’s Basketball Association of the USA). In August, she was sentenced by the Khimki Court to 9 years in prison for possessing e-cigarette cartridges. vaper, containing hash oil, a derivative of cannabis -illegal in Russia.
According to the news agency TASSGriner pleaded guilty but said “regret your mistake” and that he had no bad intentions. The athlete participated in a virtual appeal hearing this Tuesday (25.Oct). She asked the court to reassess her sentence, saying people found guilty of “minor crimes” receive lesser penalties.
“I ask the court to consider all bets that were overlooked in the 1st court and re-evaluate my sentence here.”she said, according to the newspaper ABC News Furthermore, he apologized for his mistake, claiming to be “traumatic” be away from your family.
Tuesday’s decision (Oct 25) also indicates that US President Joe Biden’s government has had little success in exchanging prisoners with Russia.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said they are aware that Brittney Griner will remain “unjustly detained in intolerable circumstances.” after going through another court case “false” this Tuesday (25.Oct). “President Biden has made it very clear that Brittney must be released immediately.”said in communiqué.
He also stated that the Biden-Harris management “continued to engage with Russia through all efforts.” to support and defend Griner and other Americans detained in Russia.
“The president has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make difficult decisions to bring Americans home, as his administration has successfully done in other countries,” said.
PRISON
Grinner, 32, was arrested in February at the Moscow airport. According to Russian customs, the athlete was carrying a vaper which contained hashish, a derivative of cannabis. Russian law states that the athlete could be punished with up to 10 years in prison.
Two-time Olympic champion for the US basketball team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Griner is one of the North American athletes who play in the Russian League during the WNBA recess months.
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