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Brittney Griner convicted on drug charges, sentenced to nine years in Russian prison
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- Brittney Griner convicted on drug charges, sentenced to nine years in Russian prison
A Russian judge sentenced Brittney Griner to nine years in a penal colony after the WNBA star and two-time United States Olympic gold medalist was found guilty of drug possession.
Griner, who entered a guilty plea weeks ago, apologized to her family and wife.
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"I made an honest mistake, and I hope that in your ruling, it doesn't end my life here," Griner said addressing the judge.
Now that the trial has concluded, negotiations to free Griner are expected to continue between Washington and Moscow during a period of tension between the two countries.
Griner, who had played for Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014 during the WNBA offseason, was arrested Feb. 17 at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport . Russian authorities said she carried vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage; Griner said during the trial that took place in Khmiki, Russia, that she accidentally packed them in haste and pleaded guilty "without intent." The court, however, claimed she committed the crime deliberately.
"The hard work that my parents instilled in me is what brought me to play for the best EuroLeague and Russian team here in Ekaterinburg," Griner said Thursday from a cage inside the courtroom. "I want to apologize to my teammates, the club, the fans and the city of (Ekaterinburg for) the mistake that I made and the embarrassment I brought.
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"This is my second home. All I wanted to do was win a championship and make them proud."
Experts in the Russian legal system – which has a 99% conviction rate – said admitting to the transgression could result in leniency on the 10-year maximum sentence Griner faced.
The lead prosecutor against Griner asked the judge to sentence her to nine years and six months in a prison colony.
"I know everybody keeps talking about 'political pawn' and politics. But I hope that is far from this courtroom," Griner said.
Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, Griner's lawyers in Russia, previously advocated for leniency in a statement. The defense team presented character witnesses from her Russian team and written testimony from a doctor who said he recommended her cannabis for pain treatment.
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MORE ON CANNABIS: Brittney Griner's use is normal in America. But Russia's drug laws are 'draconian.'
TIMELINE: What has happened since the WNBA star was detained
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, center, is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 4, 2022.
"Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG's personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence," they said.
Griner's lawyers called the verdict "absolutely unreasonable" and said it did not account for her plea. They will file an appeal.
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Griner, 31, won the 2014 WNBA title in her second season with the Phoenix Mercury , the only WNBA team for which she has played. She is a two-time scoring champion and has led the league in blocks eight times. She also won gold for Team USA women's basketball at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
In a joint statement, the WNBA and NBA said: "Today's verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate ... it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States."
Griner's arrest did not become public knowledge until nearly three weeks after it occurred . Americans arrested abroad typically have consular access – a staffer at the nearest U.S. Embassy can provide legal assistance. Griner was unable to meet with any representative of the U.S. government until March 23.
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On May 3, the U.S. State Department officially classified her as "wrongfully detained," and her case moved into the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Her trial, referred to as a "sham" by those with expertise in the Russian legal system, began July 1. Prosecutors argued Griner had less than one gram of cannabis in her luggage.
The most likely way the U.S. will secure the early release of Griner and fellow American Paul Whelan, who has also been classified as "wrongfully detained," is via prisoner swap – similar to the one that brought Trevor Reed back from Russia earlier this year. Whelan has been in custody since 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges the U.S. government disputes.
"American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney," President Joe Biden said in a statement issued shortly after Griner's sentencing. "It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.
"My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible."
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The State Department, in an extraordinary move last week, revealed the existence of a "substantial offer" to free Griner and Whelan. The prisoner swap revolved around notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed "The Merchant of Death." Last Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov connected for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The war and sanctions placed on Russia by the United States have led to tension between the two countries. Griner's supporters at home have referred to her as a "political pawn."
Representatives for Griner released excerpts of her letter to President Joe Biden on July 4. The Texas native wrote to Biden: "I'm terrified I might be here forever. Please do all you can to bring us home."
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called Cherelle Griner, Brittney's wife, later that week for the first time since her arrest. Cherelle Griner has repeatedly called on the government to increase the urgency in returning her spouse.
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Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov warned after the second day of Griner's trial that "attempts by the American side to make noise in public ... don't help the practical settlement of issues."
Blinken said in a statement Thursday: "This step puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia's legal system and the Russian government's use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.
"Nothing about today's decision changes our determination that Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained, and we will continue working to bring Brittney and fellow wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan home. This is an absolute priority of mine and the Department's."
Contributing: Associated Press
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brittney Griner convicted, sentenced to nine years in Russian prison
