Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison by the Russian justice, accused of cannabis trafficking

After several months of litigation, which deepened tensions between the governments of the United States and Russia, the trial for cannabis trafficking against the American basketball player Brittney Griner in the city of Khimki it reached a devastating verdict. The prosecution of the European country requested a sentence of nine years in prison for the pivot of UMMC Ekaterinburg in a “classic regime penal colony”, in addition to a fine of one million rubles (US$16,600), and the sentence was later confirmed by the judge Anna Sotnikova.

The penalty is very close to the maximum possible penalty for the crime, 10 years in prison, and comes after Griner pleaded guilty. guilty of entering the country with cannabis-based vapor liquid, although he alleged that it is an oversight on his part, and refuted any type of drug trafficking. Once the verdict is known, his lawyers described the sentence as “absurd” and confirmed that they will appeal.

The case of someone who in recent years became one of the best basketball players in the world took on geopolitical relevance when, also in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US government attempted to negotiate a prisoner exchange to obtain his release and that of another compatriot detained on Russian soil, Paul Whelan. However, the Kremlin was always inflexible, despite the offers of the Secretary of State Antony Blink.

In her final arguments before hearing the verdict, Griner was very dismayed by everything that had happened: “I made an honest mistake and I hope your mistake doesn’t end my life.”, he acknowledged, while his voice cracked. “I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city. [de Ekaterimburgo, donde militaba] for the mistake I made and the shame I put them through.”

“My parents taught me two important things: one, take responsibility and two, work hard for everything you have.. That is why I pleaded guilty to my charges,” he continued. “I know that everyone keeps talking about political pawns and politics, but I hope that is far from this room.”

Griner, who is active in Phoenix Mecury from WNBA, had traveled to Yekaterinburg earlier this year to remain active in the Russian basketball league during the off-season of American sports until being arrested in February. The country’s justice determined that the time she spent in custody will be taken into account when serving her sentence.

The first reactions

The president of the United States Joe Bidenwho closely followed the entire case, was one of the first figures to speak out on the matter, with severe criticism of the Kremlin: “Russia is arresting Brittney by mistake. It is unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so he can be with his wife, his loved ones, his friends and his teammates,” he said in a statement, adding: “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every avenue possible to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”.

The highest authorities of American basketball expressed themselves in the same vein, in a message published by the presidents of the NBA, Adam Silverand the WNBA, Cathy Englebert: “Today’s verdict and sentence is unwarranted and unfortunate, but not unexpected, and Brittney Griner is wrongfully kept in custody. The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not diminished and we hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing Brittney Griner back to America.”