Olympic medal-winning US female basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia by the Russian police at Sheremetyevo International Airport in the capital Moscow on February 17, was charged with possession of drugs and bringing electronic cigarette cartridges to Russia in the court where she was tried. He was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in prison. Griner was also fined 1 million rubles ($16,000).
‘I HOPE YOUR DECISION DOESN’T END MY LIFE’
Speaking in court before she burst into tears, Griner said, “I made an honest mistake and I hope your decision doesn’t end my life. My family taught me two important things. One, take on responsibilities and two, work hard for everything you have. So I accepted my accusations. Everyone is a political pawn. “I know you’re talking about politics and politics, but I hope this is a long way from the courtroom.”
Griner’s lawyers stated that they will appeal the court’s decision and stated that the court ignored all the evidence they presented while giving the sentence and Griner’s admission of guilt. Griner’s lawyers also stated that they were disappointed with the decision. The prosecutor wanted two-time Olympic gold medalist and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star Griner to be sentenced to 9.5 years in prison if found guilty of smuggling illegal drugs into the country.
He admitted his crime
Griner, who denied the allegations of drug smuggling in his previous interrogations and at the trial, admitted to the drug charges at the hearing on July 7, but denied that he had deliberately violated the law. Stating that he used drugs but had no intention of trading drugs by carrying drugs in his suitcase, Griner stated that he had accidentally put the drugs in his suitcase while it was being collected in a hurry.
PRISON EXCHANGE HAS BEEN TAKEN
In a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on July 29, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he insisted on the release of US female basketball player Brittney Griner and US ex-soldier Paul Whelan, who were detained by Russia. After the meeting, Minister Blinken said in a statement about the release of US women’s basketball player Griner and US veteran Paul Whelan, “I insisted that the Kremlin accept our proposal for the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner.” had used.
While Blinken did not comment on Lavrov’s response, he said, “I cannot make an assessment of the acceptance of this proposal by Russia.”
Griner and Whelan, who were jailed in Russia, are expected to be used in a possible prisoner swap between Russia and the United States. It is being discussed that Griner will be exchanged with the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was caught in the USA in 2012 for providing aid to terrorist organizations and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
WRITTEN A LETTER TO BIDEN
On the other hand, Griner wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden last May, demanding to be rescued from Russia. Biden, on the other hand, stated that he was working to ensure Griner’s release as soon as possible.
ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ACTORS IN THE USA
With WNBA team Phoenix Mercury, Griner is one of the most successful players in the US women’s professional league. In the off-season he went to Russia to play club basketball and has been playing for EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014.
(UAV)