Status: 04.08.2022 18:02
US basketball player Griner was held in Russian custody for months. According to Russia, she has now been sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession. “Unacceptable” for US President Biden.
A Russian court has sentenced US basketball player Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for illegal drug possession. This was reported by the Russian agency Tass from the court in Chimki near Moscow. Griner committed the act knowingly.
The athlete has been in custody for five and a half months. She is said to have had vape cartridges and hash oil with her when her luggage was checked in Sheremetyevo in February. It is said to have been 0.5 grams of marijuana – this is forbidden in Russia. Griner pleaded guilty about a month ago.
Biden: “Verdict unacceptable”
US President Joe Biden has sharply criticized Griner’s conviction and called for her release. “Russia is wrongly holding Brittney,” Biden said in a written statement. “This is unacceptable. And I call on Russia to release her immediately so that she can be with her wife, family, friends and teammates.” Biden said the US government is continuing to work tirelessly to bring Griner home safely as soon as possible.
The United States accuses Russia of politically motivated trials against Griner and has been trying for months to get the athlete released. The US President promised to help Griner’s wife Cherelle Griner in a telephone call in early July. A phone call between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Russian colleague Sergey Lavrov also discussed the possibility of a prisoner exchange, with the help of which the athlete should be released.
Griner has played for the Russian team UMMC Yekaterinburg for several years. She won the Euroleague four times with the top club. She is considered one of the best basketball players in the American women’s professional league WNBA. She won the championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014, with the US national team she won two Olympic gold medals and two gold medals at the world championships.