Brittney Griner, the American basketball star, was found guilty for drug trafficking from the court in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow in Russia, and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.
Considered among the best basketball players in the world, Brittney was arrested last February at Sheremetyevo airport, in Moscow, shortly before the conflict broke out in Ukraine, for cannabis oil refills for vaping, legal in the United States but not Russia, and often used by athletes as a pain reliever.
In the hearing, which took place on August 4th, the American champion pleaded guilty, underlining however that she had carried out the crime involuntarily the substance in Russia. This theory was completely rejected by the public prosecutor, who instead claims that Griner purposely hid the oil in her luggage.
Brittney Griner: political pawn and possible prisoner exchange
Despite this, it seems that Moscow is ready to discuss one with Washington exchange of prisoners involving the basketball player, "We are ready to discuss the issue, but only through the communication channel agreed upon by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden," said the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press conference held in Cambodia.
"Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner. It is unacceptable and I demand that she come released immediately", Biden declared, commenting on the sentence imposed on the basketball player. And again: "My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every avenue possible to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home as soon as possible"
Whelan is a Canadian citizen with American, British and Irish nationalities, arrested in Russia and sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison because he was considered a spy.
Cherelle Griner, Brittney's wife and her first supporter, last July 7, before the Russian court issued its sentence, she commented on Instagram: "This morning I received a phone call from President Biden and Vice President Harris. I am grateful to both of them for the time they dedicated to me and for the commitment they expressed in bringing BG home."
Meanwhile, "They call me political pawn, but I hope that politics stays out of this courtroom", said the champion during the hearing, begging the judges not to "put an end to her life", in the final appeal before the verdict. “I committed an honest mistake, I had no intention of breaking the law,” he declared in the Khimki court. The basketball player, who appeared behind bars and handcuffed, asked "sorry to my team, to my family. I didn't want to hurt anyone. The only thing I want is to go back to them"."
