Brittney Griner Trial: Russia Asks For 9.5 Years In Jail

Topline

A Russian courtroom on Thursday sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to 9 years in jail for drug possession and smuggling, after Russia made a “dangerous religion” response to a U.S. provide for a prisoner swap, according to the White Home.

WNBA star Brittney Griner is escorted in a courtroom room previous to a listening to, in Khimki simply outdoors … [+] Moscow.

Key Info

Griner additionally has to pay a effective of 1 million rubles.

The Russian courtroom argued Griner carried out the crime “intentionally,” in its ruling, in line with Reuters.

Throughout closing arguments, Griner said she needed to “apologize” to her teammates, her membership, followers and her household for the “mistake that I made,” including she by no means meant to interrupt any legal guidelines or put the Russian inhabitants “in jeopardy.”

The ruling comes per week after Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Russia’s Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov to just accept a deal to swap Griner and Paul Whelan, an American detained in Russia on espionage expenses, in alternate for Russian weapons seller Viktor Bout, a deal Russia has reportedly tried to amend to include a former colonel from Russia’s home spy company convicted of homicide.

Griner’s legal professionals have argued she unintentionally packed the vape cartridges whereas in a rush and makes use of hashish for medical functions.

Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas tweeted the sentencing was “extreme by Russian authorized requirements” and proves she is “getting used as a political pawn.”

What To Watch For

In an announcement, President Joe Biden mentioned Russia’s punishment was “unacceptable” and referred to as on the nation to launch her instantly, saying he “will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each attainable avenue to deliver Brittney and Paul Whelan house safely as quickly as attainable.”

Essential Quote

“I made an sincere mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn’t finish my life right here,” Griner said in closing arguments. “I do know all people retains speaking about political pawn and politics, however I hope that that’s removed from this courtroom.”

Key Background

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was detained on the airport after vape cartridges with hashish oil had been allegedly present in her baggage, pleaded responsible to drug expenses on July 7. Her attorneys have argued she didn’t intend to interrupt the regulation, displaying proof of her approval for medical marijuana use within the U.S. All use of hashish is illegitimate in Russia. Griner testified earlier than the courtroom for the primary time final week, saying she was not learn her rights after being arrested, was not supplied an legal professional and was compelled to signal papers with out a translation. After pleas from Griner, her spouse and different outstanding figures, including NBA star Lebron James, U.S. officers introduced final week that they had proposed a prisoner swap in alternate for Griner, reportedly providing Bout—who has been serving a 25-year jail sentence—in alternate for Griner and Whelan, a former marine who was arrested in Moscow in 2018. Bout, who has been dubbed the “Service provider of Dying,” provided hundreds of thousands of Soviet-era arms and ammunition to militias and terror teams all over the world.

Chief Critic

Final week John Kirby, the Nationwide Safety Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, referred to as Russia’s transfer to attempt to add one other Russian prisoner to the swap a “dangerous religion try to keep away from a really severe provide,” on CNN.