Women’s basketball star Brittney Griner will now face nine-years in Russian prison after her appeal to overturn the court’s original sentence was officially denied.
Brittney Griner via ESPN YouTube
Griner was arrested back in February when she was found attempting to leave Russia with marijuana in her possession, a drug which is completely banned in the Russian federation. In August, Griner did plead guilty but attempted to convince the judge that there was no criminal intent whatsoever, and that the substance found in her possession was purely for medical purposes.
Griner was not given any mercy for her transgression, and was still found guilty for possession and sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony.
Brittney Griner via Basketball Box W YouTube
“It terrifies me because, I mean, when you watch movies, like, sometimes those situations don’t end well. Sometimes they never get the person back,” said Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner in an interview with CBS News.
The U.S. State Department, who had attempted to use diplomatic means to try and return Griner home, stated in a press release at the time that Griner had been “wrongfully detained” prior to the harsh sentencing.
At one point, the Biden administration did consider doing a prisoner swap with a known Russian arms dealer in exchange for the former Olympian, but when news of that proposal was released it was quickly and rightfully taken off the table.
.@SecBlinken: In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for the first time since before the war began. I plan to raise an issue that’s a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner. pic.twitter.com/Gvd9gbB5sU
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 27, 2022
Griner and her wife had attempted to appeal the Biden administration to have more direct involvement in her release, but very little appeared to get through. In September, Biden had told Cherelle Griner that the “continued commitment to working through all available avenues” to bring her home were being considered.
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