[The Epoch Times, August 5, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Allen Zhong reported / Takasugi compiled) A Russian court announced on Thursday (August 4) that American basketball star Griner was charged with drug possession and drug smuggling. Convicted. She was sentenced to nine years in prison and a fine of 1 million rubles (about $16,000).
Brittney Griner is a center and two-time Olympic gold medalist for the Phoenix Mercury. Earlier, when she entered Russia, she was found to be carrying an e-cigarette containing marijuana.
After the sentence was pronounced, Grina looked sad and solemn, and said that she understood the sentence. Her defense team said they would appeal the sentence. A Russian state prosecutor had urged a judge to sentence Grina to nine-and-a-half years in prison.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the verdict was “unacceptable” and his administration has struggled to get the Russian regime to free Grina.
He said in a statement: “Today’s sentence to jail for US citizen Britney Griner is another reminder of what the world already knows: Russia is wrongfully holding Britney. This is unacceptable. Accepted, I call on Russia to release her immediately so that she can be with her family, friends and teammates.”
President Biden has pledged to continue his efforts to bring Grena and Paul Whelan — arrested in 2018 and charged with espionage and dual Canadian and U.S. citizens — home as soon as possible.
Earlier in the meeting, with a conviction all but certain, an emotional Griner made a final appeal to the court for clemency. She said she committed an “unintentional mistake” by inadvertently carrying an e-cigarette straw filled with marijuana oil while flying to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg to play basketball in February, with no intention of knowingly breaking the law.
“I committed an inadvertent mistake, and I hope in your ruling, it doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said in court on Aug. 4. She broke down in tears.
She added: “I want to apologise to my team-mates, my club, my fans and the city (of Yekaterinburg) for the mistakes I made and the embarrassment I caused them. I also want to apologise to my parents, my My apologies to the brothers and sisters, the Phoenix Mercury team in my hometown, the wonderful women in the WNBA, and my wonderful spouse in my hometown.”
Yekaterinburg, a city east of the Ural Mountains, has become her “second home,” she said.
“I didn’t expect to be so impressed by the team, the city, the fans, the teammates in the six-and-a-half years I spent here,” Griner said in his speech. When I came out, all the little girls were waiting for me in the stands, and that’s what kept me coming back here.”
Russian prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko maintains that Griner carried the cannabis oil on purpose.
Griner’s lawyers also spoke in support of Griner’s argument that she had no criminal intent and that the oil was mistakenly in her luggage. The lawyer provided witnesses for her team in Yekaterinburg, Russia, during the offseason of the US Women’s Professional Basketball League, as well as written testimony from a doctor. The doctor said he prescribed her marijuana for injuries she suffered during her basketball career.
Her attorney, Maria Blagovolina, argued that Griner only used marijuana in Arizona, where medical marijuana is legal.
She said Griner was in a hurry to pack after a long flight and Covid-19. Blago Wallina also pointed out that the process of analyzing the marijuana found on Griner was flawed and violated legal process.
Blago Wolina asked the court to acquit Griner, praising her “role in the development of basketball in Russia.” She also pointed out that she has no criminal record in the past.
Another defense attorney, Alexander Boykov, highlighted Grina’s role in leading her Yekaterinburg team to multiple championships, noting that she was loved and admired by her teammates. He told the judge that her conviction would undermine Russia’s efforts to develop national sports and make Moscow’s calls to depoliticize sports sound superficial.
Before her trial began in July, the U.S. State Department designated her case as “wrongful detention” and referred her case to the presidential envoy for hostage affairs, effectively overseeing the administration’s chief hostage negotiator.
Then, last week, Blinken made an extraordinary move for Griner’s case. He had a direct call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept a deal. Under the agreement, Griner and Whelan will be freed.
Lavrov’s call with Blinken marks the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than five months ago. Direct engagement on the Griner issue runs counter to U.S. efforts to isolate the Kremlin.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Responsible editor: Ye Ziwei#
