The Russian Prosecutor’s Office asks for 9.5 years in prison for the American basketball star Brittney Griner, arrested for drug possession

The prosecutor has also asked the Olympic and world champion to pay a fine of one million rubles (more than $16,000).

• Judgment Brittney Griner admits that her belongings contained cannabis, but criticizes irregularities in her arrest in Russia
• sports The strange arrest of Brittney Griner, star of the WNBA, at the Moscow airport for possession of drugs

The Russian Prosecutor’s Office requested this Thursday nine and a half years in prison for the American basketball player Brittney Grinerarrested last February for drug possession and smuggling.

“The prosecution finds that the guilt of Brittney Griner has been fully tested,” said the prosecutor Nikoli Vlasenko during the hearing held in the urban court of Jimkiin the region of Musk.

Russian law punishes with a maximum of ten years in prison the crime allegedly committed by Grinerwho plays for the Russian team UMMC of Yekaterimburgo.

The prosecutor has also asked the Olympic and world champion to pay a fine of one thousand rubles (over $16,000).

Meanwhile, the defense has requested his acquittal or, failing that, the least possible prison sentence.

In principle, Griner This Thursday he will have the opportunity to address the court, after which the judge will retire to deliberate and issue the ruling.

prisoner exchange

The US government considers that the arrest of the basketball player when crossing the border with cannabis oil was “wrong” and demands her immediate release, like many stars of the NBA y WNBA.

Secretary of State for USA, Antony Blinkproposed last week to his Russian colleague, Sergui Lavrovthe exchange of Griner y Paul Whelansentenced to 16 years for espionage, for the “merchant of death”, Victor Butserving 25 years in an American prison.

Recently, the White House reject the “contrary” of Russiawho wanted to include a second Russian prisoner in the exchange, the Chechen Vadm KrsikovSegn informed CNN.

The athlete, 31 years old. she was arrested on February 17 at the airport of Sheremetevo in Musk after customs officials found cannabis oil in their suitcases. The spokesman for Kremlin, Dmitry Peskovneg that the criminal proceedings against the basketball player have a political background.

Recently, Russia y USA they exchanged the american student Trevor Reedsentenced to nine years in prison for resisting arrest, for the Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenkosentenced in the US to 20 years for drug smuggling.