Brittney Griner will stay imprisoned in Russia for not less than eight years following a latest court docket ruling. Griner’s attorneys filed an enchantment in August towards her nine-year conviction however a Russian court docket rejected it on Tuesday (Oct. 26).
Meanwhile, within the U.S., the White House launched an announcement doubling down on their assist for the discharge of the WNBA star.
“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated.
Following Brittney’s conviction in August, President Biden launched the same assertion. The president stated the nine-year sentence was a reminder that Russia is “wrongfully detaining Brittney,” a sentiment turned official declaration in May.
Russian Court Grants Time Served For Pre-Trial Detention
Earlier this month, Griner’s lawyer Alexander D. Boykov declared his consumer “has not been in as good condition.” She supposedly spends most of her day in a small holding with two cellmates. Guards enable her time in a small courtyard on the colony as soon as a day. At the time, Alexander revealed Brittney was “afraid” of getting to serve the complete sentence.
As beforehand reported, Griner was detained at a Moscow airport after officers found two vape cartridges containing hashish oil. The 32-year-old pled responsible in July however stood agency that she had “no intent” to smuggle medication because the prosecutors claimed. Griner doubled down on her innocence whereas talking to the court docket throughout closing arguments in August.
“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner informed the court docket. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here.”
Despite Griner’s assertion, a U.S. physician’s letter recommending medical hashish to Brittney, and a clear doping take a look at, the choose nonetheless dominated within the prosecution’s favor. In addition to 9 years in a penal colony, the Russian court docket fined the athlete about $16,300 or a million rubles.
While the ruling upheld the sentence, the court docket did grant Griner a small win with time served. According to the Associated Press, every of Griner’s pre-trial detention days will rely as 1.5 days off of her sentence. In whole, she’s about eight years in jail.
White House Confirms Talks With Russia To Free American Prisoners
In Monday’s assertion, the White House admitted to reaching out to Russia “through every available channel” to convey Brittney and different wrongfully detained Americans like Paul Wheelan dwelling.
“The President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home, as his Administration has done successfully from countries around the world. The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances,” the National Security Advisor stated.
Cherelle Griner is within the battle of her life to convey dwelling her spouse, Brittney Griner, who’s been sentenced to 9 years in jail.
She fears the worst: “I don’t know if she has anything left in her tank to continue to wake up every day and be in a place where she has no one.” pic.twitter.com/WR4fm5RRUt
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 6, 2022
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