Russia courtroom jails US basketball player Brittney Griner for 9 decades on drug charges
A Russian court sentenced U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on Thursday after getting her responsible of intentionally bringing hashish-infused vape cartridges into Russia, a ruling that U.S. President Joe Biden known as “unacceptable.”
Griner was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs by law enforcement immediately after the ruling, turning to reporters and indicating: “I love my family members”.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star, was arrested in mid-February as she arrived to enjoy for a Russian facet during the WNBA offseason. Her case threw the Texan into the geopolitical maelstrom brought on when President Vladimir Putin despatched troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, propelling U.S.-Russian relations to a new publish-Chilly War small.
Her sentencing could now pave the way for a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that would incorporate the 31-year-previous athlete and an imprisoned Russian who was at the time a prolific arms dealer.
Griner experienced admitted possessing the vape cartridges made up of cannabis oil but stated she experienced made an honest slip-up by inadvertently packing them.
In advance of the verdict, she tearfully pleaded with a Russian judge not to “end her daily life” with a harsh jail sentence. The courtroom also fined her 1 million roubles ($16,990).
Biden, below pressure to deliver home Us citizens held in Russia, called on Russia to no cost Griner immediately and reported his administration would proceed to do the job for her launch.
“Now, American citizen Brittney Griner acquired a prison sentence that is one particular extra reminder of what the environment currently understood: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” he said in a assertion.
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“It’s unacceptable, and I simply call on Russia to release her instantly so she can be with her wife, loved types, friends, and teammates.”
Griner’s attorneys reported they would charm a verdict they said was “absolutely unreasonable”. Her defence crew mentioned the court had dismissed all proof they experienced offered, as nicely as Griner’s guilty plea.
“She is really upset, quite pressured,” explained Maria Blagovolina, spouse at Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Companions, just after the hearing. “She can barely talk. It’s a tough time for her.”
The Russian prosecutor had called for Griner to be sentenced to 9-1/2 decades prison if she was observed guilty of bringing illegal prescription drugs into the state.
‘HONEST MISTAKE’
Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 with the cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage. Even though she pleaded responsible, she mentioned she had neither intended to convey a banned compound to Russia nor to damage anybody.
“I manufactured an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it isn’t going to stop my lifetime in this article,” Griner explained in court docket on Thursday prior to breaking down in tears.
“My mother and father taught me two vital points: one, just take ownership of your duties and two, do the job hard for everything that you have. Which is why I pled responsible to my expenses.”
“I want to say once more that I had no intent on breaking any Russians rules,” she explained to the courtroom. “I experienced no intent, I did not conspire or plan to commit this criminal offense.”
Griner also referred to the intercontinental politics all over her circumstance, declaring: “I know all people retains chatting about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is significantly from this courtroom”.
Hashish is unlawful in Russia for the two medicinal and recreational needs.
Griner’s defence workforce had named for her to be acquitted. Alexander Boikov, one particular of her attorneys, stated some of the scenario files experienced been drawn up in violation of the legislation.
ALSO Go through| US Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Japan, ultimate end on Asia journey
PRISONER SWAP
The United States has offered to exchange Russian prisoners for American citizens together with Griner and previous Maritime Paul Whelan.
One particular supply common with the circumstance reported that Washington was willing to exchange convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, whose lifestyle helped encourage the 2005 Hollywood film “Lord of War” starring Nicholas Cage.
Russian officers have reported a offer has not been reached. They argue that Griner – recognised as “BG” to basketball admirers – violated laws and should really be judged appropriately.
United states of america Basketball mentioned in a message on Twitter it was dissatisfied at Thursday’s ruling but it would keep on being engaged with the U.S. State Department in the effort to get Griner home.
“We will not be happy until eventually BG is back again in the U.S. and reunited with her liked kinds, teammates and fans,” it reported.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reported in a assertion that the verdict versus Griner was “unjustified and regrettable.”
Griner appeared at the hearing in a gray T-shirt and round-rimmed eyeglasses. In advance of getting a seat in the defendant’s cage, she held up a image of UMMC Ekaterinburg, the staff she played for in Russia throughout the WNBA offseason.
In her testimony previous 7 days, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back again to Russia to be a part of UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs.
“I continue to don’t comprehend to this day how they finished up in my bag,” said Griner, the 1st select all round in the 2013 WNBA draft. “If I experienced to guess on how they finished up in my bags, I was in a rush packing.”
Griner had been recommended health care cannabis in the United States to reduce pain from long-term injuries, a treatment method system that is frequent among the elite athletes due to the fact it has less side effects than some painkillers.
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A Russian court sentenced U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on Thursday after getting her responsible of intentionally bringing hashish-infused vape cartridges into Russia, a ruling that U.S. President Joe Biden known as “unacceptable.”
Griner was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs by law enforcement immediately after the ruling, turning to reporters and indicating: “I love my family members”.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star, was arrested in mid-February as she arrived to enjoy for a Russian facet during the WNBA offseason. Her case threw the Texan into the geopolitical maelstrom brought on when President Vladimir Putin despatched troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, propelling U.S.-Russian relations to a new publish-Chilly War small.
Her sentencing could now pave the way for a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that would incorporate the 31-year-previous athlete and an imprisoned Russian who was at the time a prolific arms dealer.
Griner experienced admitted possessing the vape cartridges made up of cannabis oil but stated she experienced made an honest slip-up by inadvertently packing them.
In advance of the verdict, she tearfully pleaded with a Russian judge not to “end her daily life” with a harsh jail sentence. The courtroom also fined her 1 million roubles ($16,990).
Biden, below pressure to deliver home Us citizens held in Russia, called on Russia to no cost Griner immediately and reported his administration would proceed to do the job for her launch.
“Now, American citizen Brittney Griner acquired a prison sentence that is one particular extra reminder of what the environment currently understood: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” he said in a assertion.
ALSO Read| China will pay back the selling price if it dares to invade: Taiwan MP’s warning in excess of armed forces drills
“It’s unacceptable, and I simply call on Russia to release her instantly so she can be with her wife, loved types, friends, and teammates.”
Griner’s attorneys reported they would charm a verdict they said was “absolutely unreasonable”. Her defence crew mentioned the court had dismissed all proof they experienced offered, as nicely as Griner’s guilty plea.
“She is really upset, quite pressured,” explained Maria Blagovolina, spouse at Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Companions, just after the hearing. “She can barely talk. It’s a tough time for her.”
The Russian prosecutor had called for Griner to be sentenced to 9-1/2 decades prison if she was observed guilty of bringing illegal prescription drugs into the state.
‘HONEST MISTAKE’
Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 with the cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage. Even though she pleaded responsible, she mentioned she had neither intended to convey a banned compound to Russia nor to damage anybody.
“I manufactured an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it isn’t going to stop my lifetime in this article,” Griner explained in court docket on Thursday prior to breaking down in tears.
“My mother and father taught me two vital points: one, just take ownership of your duties and two, do the job hard for everything that you have. Which is why I pled responsible to my expenses.”
“I want to say once more that I had no intent on breaking any Russians rules,” she explained to the courtroom. “I experienced no intent, I did not conspire or plan to commit this criminal offense.”
Griner also referred to the intercontinental politics all over her circumstance, declaring: “I know all people retains chatting about political pawn and politics, but I hope that is significantly from this courtroom”.
Hashish is unlawful in Russia for the two medicinal and recreational needs.
Griner’s defence workforce had named for her to be acquitted. Alexander Boikov, one particular of her attorneys, stated some of the scenario files experienced been drawn up in violation of the legislation.
ALSO Go through| US Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Japan, ultimate end on Asia journey
PRISONER SWAP
The United States has offered to exchange Russian prisoners for American citizens together with Griner and previous Maritime Paul Whelan.
One particular supply common with the circumstance reported that Washington was willing to exchange convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, whose lifestyle helped encourage the 2005 Hollywood film “Lord of War” starring Nicholas Cage.
Russian officers have reported a offer has not been reached. They argue that Griner – recognised as “BG” to basketball admirers – violated laws and should really be judged appropriately.
United states of america Basketball mentioned in a message on Twitter it was dissatisfied at Thursday’s ruling but it would keep on being engaged with the U.S. State Department in the effort to get Griner home.
“We will not be happy until eventually BG is back again in the U.S. and reunited with her liked kinds, teammates and fans,” it reported.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reported in a assertion that the verdict versus Griner was “unjustified and regrettable.”
Griner appeared at the hearing in a gray T-shirt and round-rimmed eyeglasses. In advance of getting a seat in the defendant’s cage, she held up a image of UMMC Ekaterinburg, the staff she played for in Russia throughout the WNBA offseason.
In her testimony previous 7 days, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back again to Russia to be a part of UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs.
“I continue to don’t comprehend to this day how they finished up in my bag,” said Griner, the 1st select all round in the 2013 WNBA draft. “If I experienced to guess on how they finished up in my bags, I was in a rush packing.”
Griner had been recommended health care cannabis in the United States to reduce pain from long-term injuries, a treatment method system that is frequent among the elite athletes due to the fact it has less side effects than some painkillers.
— Finishes —
