Brittney Griner found guilty, sentenced to nine years in Russian prison

Today a Russian court found WNBA star Brittney Griner, 31 guilty on cannabis possession charges, CNN reports. She was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 1 million rubles (about $16,300) after hashish oil was found in her bags at a Moscow airport on Feb. 17.

“I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this courtroom.”Griner said in the Khimki city courthouse after the ruling. 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement, “Today’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongly detained. The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”

WNBA and @NBA statement regarding Brittney Griner ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jlQlVS3ZtL

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 4, 2022

Griner team, Phoenix Mercury also released a statement, “While we knew it was never the legal process that was going to bring our friend home, today’s verdict is a sobering milestone in the 168-day nightmare being endured by our sister, BG.

We Are BG. pic.twitter.com/xFLu0a2aSB

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 4, 2022

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is calling on Russia to “immediately” release Brittney Griner. “Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” Biden said. “It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates. My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”

Griner’s attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, called her nine-year sentence “absolutely unreasonable” and they “will file an appeal.”

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