Brittney Griner: 9-Year Russian Prison Sentence
- Basketball star Brittney Griner, detained in Russia on drug charges, has apologized to her team, fans, and family for her "mistake." The drug sentence has drawn condemnation from...
- Griner stated she regretted the embarrassment caused to her Yekaterinburg team, the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA, and her family.
- Biden responded to the Brittney Griner sentence by vowing to "pursue every possible avenue" to secure her release and the return of Paul Whelan, another American detained in...
brittney Griner Sentenced in Russia; Biden Calls for Release
Basketball star Brittney Griner, detained in Russia on drug charges, has apologized to her team, fans, and family for her “mistake.” The drug sentence has drawn condemnation from U.S. President Joe Biden, who insisted Russia is “wrongfully detaining” her.
Griner stated she regretted the embarrassment caused to her Yekaterinburg team, the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA, and her family. She said she inadvertently brought cannabis oil into Russia while packing in a hurry.
Biden responded to the Brittney Griner sentence by vowing to “pursue every possible avenue” to secure her release and the return of Paul Whelan, another American detained in Russia. He called on Russia to immediately release Griner so she can return to her wife, family, friends, and teammates.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver jointly called the verdict “unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected.” They added, “Brittney Griner remains wrongly detained,” and emphasized the leagues’ commitment to her safe return to the United States.
Griner previously testified that she uses cannabis oil,prescribed by her doctor,to manage pain from sports injuries. She asserted she did not intend to smuggle illegal substances into Russia.
She also claimed her rights were not read to her upon arrest and that she lacked proper translation services during the investigation.
In a letter to Biden last month, Griner expressed fears of being held in Russia forever and pleaded for his help in bringing her and other American detainees home.
lindsay Colas, Griner’s agent, said they appreciate the Biden administration’s efforts to bring Griner and Whelan back to the U.S., adding that bringing Brittney and Paul home is the sole objective, and as such, we should use all available tools.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans, and the city of [Yekaterinburg] for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” Griner said.
what’s next
The U.S.government is expected to continue diplomatic efforts to negotiate Griner’s release, possibly through a prisoner exchange with Russia. The Russia drug case remains a high priority for the Biden administration.