Brittney Griner found guilty by Russian court and sentenced to nine years in prison

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands behind bars in a courtroom for a listening to, in Khimki simply exterior Moscow (Image: AP)

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been discovered responsible of drug possession and smuggling by a Russian courtroom and sentenced to 9 years in jail.

Russian prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko on Thursday had requested the courtroom to condemn her to 9 1/2 years in jail, along with a 1million ruble tremendous ($16,700).

Griner, 31, was caught in February with vape cartridges containing hashish oil in a Moscow airport after flying house from enjoying basketball for a membership in Yekaterinburg.

She has already spent almost six months in a Russian jail.

An emotional Griner apologized in courtroom.

‘I need to apologize to my teammates, my membership, my followers and the town of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I introduced on them,’ Griner acknowledged.

‘I need to additionally apologize to my dad and mom, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury group again at house, the superb girls of the WNBA, and my superb partner again at house.’

Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, argued that the she solely used the cartridges in Arizona, the place she performs for Phoenix Mercury.

Medical marijuana is authorized in Arizona, and Griner was prescribed the drug to deal with her continual ache.

Blagovolina additionally argued that Griner forgot the cartridges had been packed in her baggage after coping with an extended flight and the aftermath of Covid-19.

President Joe Biden condemned the sentence.

‘At this time, American citizen Brittney Griner obtained a jail sentence that's yet one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,’ acknowledged Biden.

‘It’s unacceptable, and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she will be together with her spouse, family members, buddies, and teammates. My administration will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each potential avenue to convey Brittney and Paul Whelan house safely as quickly as potential.’

Exterior the Russian courtroom, Elizabeth Rood, Cost d’Affaires of the US embassy in Russia, known as the sentence ‘a miscarriage of justice’.

‘The US Division of State has decided that Ms. Griner was wrongfully detained,’ Rood stated. ‘Nothing in at the moment’s resolution modifications that willpower.’

The US has reportedly provided Russia a prisoner trade for Griner. The deal would see the US free Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms vendor at the moment serving a 25-year jail sentence, exchanged for Griner and fellow detained US citizen Paul Whelan.

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