A Russian court rejected WNBA player Brittney Griner’s appeal from her nine-year sentence for drug possession. The court ruled they would uphold the original sentence handed to Griner on Tuesday. The only difference with this court’s outcome is that they will recalculate her serving time in which they will take into account the time she has already served with pre-trial detention. As of now, the new calculation is going to amount to 8 years in a Russian prison unless the U.S. and Russia come to a prisoner swap agreement.
Back in August, Griner was given a nine-year sentence after she plead guilty to drug possession charges. This came after Russian authorities found prescribed cannabis in her bags at the Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow on February 17th.
The White House has mentioned the potential of prisoner swaps to get Griner back into American custody, though National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said in September that Russia hasn’t responded to their offers.
Fox News has reported:
“National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan released a statement after the sentence was upheld.
“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately,” the statement read.
“In recent weeks, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to engage with Russia through every available channel and make every effort to bring home Brittney as well as to support and advocate for other Americans detained in Russia, including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan. The President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home, as his Administration has done successfully from countries around the world. The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.””
Griner wasn’t hopeful that the appeals team would change the outcome of her case. October 17th has now marked the eighth month since she was first brought into Russian custody. While American authorities are still attempting to negotiate for her release, it seems they are at a stand still until Russia makes up their minds on what to do next.
I don’t feel sorry for her, she should of known that the sheet don’t fly there.
I agree with ya 💯. She maybe a big athlete here in the USA, but that means nothing in Russia. Also, because she is black doesn’t mean anything. Doesn’t give her a free out of jail card. That again is something the USA gives criminals. Not in foreign countries. She deserves to be in prison. Leave her there.
She hates our Anthem and America! Let her rot!
Good, she guilty and now she pays the price.
I do in a way, and on the other hand, I don’t, she is one of the best basketball players unfortunately with this verdict she has ruined her career, on the other hand she got caught with the stuff in her bag and now she has to pay the price. You go to these countries and their laws are so different it would pay you to find out what would happen if you were caught with something illegal in your possession.
She did the crime so she must pay and remember she doesn’t like the U.S. so why should she be bailed out., Hopefully now she can love Russia. Donna
I really feel badly about that young girl’s problem, but WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? Going into Russia while carrying drugs is the equivalent of suicide. The Russians are probably beside themselves with glee, after all, they caught an American athlete, and a woman at that, carrying what are illegal drugs in Russia. The fact that they are a prescription from a doctor carries no weight when measured against the years the Russians will be able to make propaganda over this. Her only hope will probably be a prisoner swap, but only IF the U.S. has a suitable Russian criminal to trade. I hope she comes out of this whole, but she’s now a pawn in a Russian chess game, and will be exploited in any way the Russians see fit to use her. Any U.S. athletic teams going overseas should be sat down and taught the lesson here before they’re allowed to leave home. It may be that the only lesson here will warn future athletes to be careful when in a foreign country with far more strict drug laws than in the U.S. At this point, all we have is hope.
She/he knew so too bad live with it. No sympathy here. Probably thought she/he could play the race/gender card and get out of jail free. That shit don’t fly in Russia.
Well, one good thing has come out of all of this is she can stay out of America the country she hates and live where she doesn’t have a constitution and being gay won’t serve her well because Putin isn’t for all this drag shows.
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