A Russian court has sentenced the Basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years imprisonment for possessing drugs.
A Russian court has sentenced Basketballer and Olympic gold medallist, Brittney Griner, to nine years imprisonment. She was found carrying cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage. In Russia Cannabis is illegal for both medicinal and recreational use. On her part, Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges but has denied breaking the law.
“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. I made an honest mistake and I hope in your ruling it doesn’t end my life,” Griner told the court. Griner further added that she “did not conspire or plan to commit this crime.
In Russia, defendants are rarely acquitted and a conviction is highly likely. The length of a sentence is generally thought to be short. And Griner’s prosecutor wanted her to be imprisoned for 9 years and six months. He also pleaded before the court to slap an I million robles fine on her. Judge Anna Sotnikova of Khimki city court followed suit and sentenced her to 9 years imprisonment.
Sotnikova also fined her 1 million roubles (£ 13,700 or $16,500). Griner’s defense, however, argued for a more lenient punishment. They also referenced her high profile in the sporting world, but the prosecutor held sway. After the sentence, Griner told CNN “I love my family.”
We are Disappointed with the Verdict: Griner’s Defence Counsel Russian Court
As soon as the judgment came out, Griner’s defense voiced their disappointment. Lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said:
“We are very disappointed with the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense and most importantly the guilty plea”, they said. “This contradicts the existing legal practice. Taking into account the amount of substance (not to mention the defects of the expertise) and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable, we will certainly file an appeal.”
Alexander Boykov said the average sentence for a crime like this is five years. And almost a third of those convicted get parole. And Blagovolina said, “Griner is not doing fine today”. The defense counsel hopes that she will be able to talk to her family next week. But for now, Griner will return to her detention center.
Griner’s Sentence Comes Amid Fraught US-Russia Relations
US-Russian relations were already tense since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Grinner’s conviction has taken it to a new low. And Griner is not the only American national imprisoned in Russia. Paul Whelan, an ex-marine was also jailed as he was taken to be a “spy.” In the US the highest levels of bureaucracy seem to involve themselves in seeking Griner’s release. A possible way would be a prisoner swap with the Americans exchanging Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for both Whelan and Griner.
As of now, President Biden has criticized Brittney Griner’s incarceration.
“Today American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so that she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates”, Biden said.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken criticized Russia too. He said the sentence puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system. He further criticized what he saw as the “Russian government’s wrongful detentions” to “advance its own agenda”, and use “individuals as pawns.”
(Inputs, BBC, CNN, Reuters)
