“Joe Biden just sit and watch” Brittney Griner sentences for 9 years in Russian prison for drug smuggling
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Brittney Griner at the trail in Russia
After finding her guilty of intentionally importing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia, a Russian court sentenced American basketball player Brittney Griner to nine years in jail on Thursday. U.S. President Joe Biden called the decision “unacceptable.” The Khimki City Court’s Judge Anna Sotnikova handed down the ruling and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or around $16,400. She said that the court considered Griner’s partial acknowledgment of guilt, regret for the crime, condition of health, and philanthropic efforts. She should have received a 9.5-year prison term, according to the prosecution. In an impassioned address before the decision, Griner expressed regret to the jury and begged for mercy.
In a delayed trial that highlighted the strained ties between the United States and Russia since the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, Griner entered a guilty plea last month. The possibility of a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow will now come under discussion. American authorities will continue to urge for Griner’s release while not anticipating any quick progress. Griner pled guilty on July 7 despite the fact that the case was still pending under Russian law since a guilty conviction was widely believed to be inevitable.
Who is Brittney Griner and why is she in Russia?
One of the best women’s basketball players in the world is 6-foot-9 centre Brittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA all-star. She has dominated the league in both points per game and blocks per game twice in her nine seasons. Griner became famous while she was a college basketball player at Baylor University when she made a record by being the seventh woman in NCAA history to slam dunk in a game. After being selected with the first choice in the WNBA draught in 2013, Griner made history off the field by being the first out gay athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Nike.
Russian authorities have been holding Brittney Griner since Feb. 17, when they detained her at Sheremetyevo International Airport, on the grounds that they believed she was in possession of cannabis oil-containing vape cartridges, which are illegal in that nation. Griner, like many other female basketball players, plays overseas during the WNBA summer to boost her earnings and maintain her skills. The Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League team Griner was representing at the time of her arrest was UMMC Ekaterinburg. While adding that she had a doctor’s prescription for the cannabis oil and had packed swiftly, Griner said she had no clue how it ended up in her suitcase.
A U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange involving the 31-year-old athlete and an imprisoned Russian who was formerly a renowned arms dealer may now be possible as a result of her punishment. Brittney Griner exhibited no emotion as she listened to the judgement, her face remaining expressionless. Griner had been facing a term of up to 10 years, and the nine-year sentence was almost as long as that; prosecutors had requested a sentence of 9 and half years. Griner’s defense team said that they will file an appeal, claiming that the court disregarded all of their submitted evidence and Griner’s guilty plea when it handed down a sentence.
In a statement following the decision, U.S. President Joe Biden referred to Griner as having been wrongfully detained, a term that has been used by American authorities since May, and he urged for her release. The Phoenix Mercury, Griner’s WNBA team, expressed its continued optimism that the Biden Administration will ensure the basketball legend’s freedom. Griner also expressed her regret to her teammates, fans, and the people of Ekaterinburg, where she has played during WNBA off-seasons since 2014. Under pressure to return Americans detained in Russia, Biden urged Moscow to promptly release Griner and said that his government would continue to push for her freedom.
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Irvin Philip
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