(Photo Credits: Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
A Russian court convicted WNBA star Brittney Griner of drug possession and smuggling on Thursday and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Griner—who went to Russia to play with the Russian Premier League during the WNBA offseason—was reportedly detained by Russian customs on February 17, 2022. She was later arrested for carrying cartridges containing less than a gram of hashish oil through Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
Apart from being sentenced to imprisonment, Judge Anna Sotnikova, the presiding judge who delivered the sentence, also fined Griner 1 million rubles (around $16,500). The judge said the court “took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities” in addition to the time that Griner had already spent in detention.
Speaking in the Khimki city courthouse prior to her sentencing, Griner asked for leniency. She said, “I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here.” She added, “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom.”
Further, she said, “I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime.”
Griner’s defense team has 10 days to appeal. Her lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, released a written statement that reads:
We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea. This contradicts the existing legal practice. Taking into account the amount of the substance (not to mention the defects of the expertise) and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable. We will certainly file an appeal.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden released a statement on the sentencing of Brittney Griner. It reads:
Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. 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.
Speaking to reporters in Cambodia on Friday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is “ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that has been agreed by the presidents,” as reported by RIA Novosti.
Lavrov reportedly added, “There is a specified channel that has been agreed upon by [Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden], and no matter what anyone says publicly, this channel will remain in effect.”
On the other hand, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US will “pursue talks with Russia.” He said, “We put forward, as you know, a substantial proposal that Russia should engage with us on. And what Foreign Minister Lavrov said this morning and said publicly is that they are prepared to engage through channels we’ve established to do just that. And we’ll be pursuing that.”
Read more about this story here, here, and here.
Brittney Griner is considered the best offensive player in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has been named as one of the best 25 players in the history of WNBA in 2021 not to mention she is a two-time gold Olympic medalist (2016 and 2021 respectively).
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, has been actively campaigning and calling for the WNBA player’s release since her arrest.
Praying for her. Hopefully she’ll get released soon. She picked the wrong time to break Russian law.
America, Russia is our enemy. Why are Americans putting themselves and their families at risk.
That dyke went over there on her own accord to make money. She is not a political prisoner
Playing devils advocate here….she should have been out of Russia when the rest of her team left. A war was about to start, tensions were high, and she was in possession of marijuana in a country where it’s extremely illegal. Call me a victim blamer but the victim bears responsibility for this situation. People should definitely try to get her home, but she is no hero by any definition. Yes, the court was likely swayed by politics and yes the story is buried under other stories in the U.S. Personally and objectively, I cannot get behind this story but I… Read more »
She’s not a victim she’s a perpetrator, and not a very bright one at that
Exactly – let her do her time. She isnt worth the political flack
No one is calling her a hero, are they, it simply wasn’t good thinking on her part. Americans do seem to think that they should get away with committing crimes in other countries (hubris). But there’s more to it this time, politics/war has much to do this time, she’s now a political prisoner.
She hates America and went to play basketball for money in a country that actually is oppressive. Maybe she’ll appreciate the freedoms she was born with now.
On a positive note, now she won’t have to suffer through another American national anthem for 9 years!!
I bet you don’t remember when the supreme court said it was ok to wear the flag on your butt and other rude places. As a veteran I was upset, the court said it was freedom of speech. Upon induction we raised our hand serve and protect this nation and it’s people… not a flag. Whether she kneels or not it’s free speech. I bet those against kneeling have never been abused or had some murdered because of it. To the haters explain why we have homeless and neglected veterans… where is the honor in this. Also why are some… Read more »
Yes, I DO remember the court saying that. And you got upset. Didn’t the court take an oath to uphold the Constitution, too? Who did you think knows more about the Constitution; you or the court? It would seem you finally came around to understanding you didn’t know it all. Cool, we all live and learn. No, but I’ve been abused, by a gay guy no less, and know of others who have been murdered for other reasons. What’s your point? We have homeless and neglected veterans for the same reasons anybody can be homeless or neglected. Are we to… Read more »
More to your point; join the club!
Talking about the African American men, all the way from the Civil war (slaves) right up to the WWII, those who came home after liberating others across the pond; being denied what is in black& white, the Governments letter head.
“Yeah, “white man speak with fork tongue.” Pathological liars, simple, with a serious dose of narcissism.
I am very passionate about this subject and I’m glad the author addressed it. I respect you guys opinions but let’s be fair. I don’t remember reading anywhere that Brittney hates America. Women professional basketball players, play overseas during the off-season to make more money. Personally, I love my country. This is the best country in the world and I’m sure Brittney feels the same way right now.
She feels the same right now, but not so very long ago she was kneeling and demanding our national anthem not be played.
She does not love America.
Let’s see how she likes Russia.
So you’re saying that all America citizens that peacefully protest in America hates our fine country. Eighty-five million people protested the results our 2020 election because Trump lost. I’m sure they don’t all hate America. So you saying on January 6, when our capitol was attacked because of a lie, all those insurrectionist that violently protested, hates America? They didn’t kneel peacefully, they fought using our America flag as weapons. Her ancestors help build this great country. Why would she hate her own home? I watched her win 2 Gold medals playing basketball in the Olympics. Let’s all just get… Read more »
Show me your DD214 and explain veterans neglect… be you don’t get oppressed either. Enjoy your freedom and you’re welcome… from a veteran.
No one is saying that she hates America simply because she was over there playing a sport she loves (and for profit). What I am saying is that she certainly should have made better choices. If she needed the marijuana to “perform” or for pain relief, she (or her handlers) were in a position to fact-check what the rules of the land were BEFORE she committed the crime (which she herself acknowledged).
WTF?!!! Like her own country isn’t oppressive, really? Hello, damnit, if women teams were to make the money they are most certainly and proven to be worth, she wouldn’t have had to go and play in/for some other country such as Russia. You clearly, clearly haven’t all the facts or you wouldn’t have made such an obviously stupid comment. If she was a caucasian or latin, you wouldn’t have said that bullshit. You see all of the fucking idiots who agree with you? That is why she’s in another country playin’ b-ball, discrimination in her own fucking country, among her… Read more »
we Native Americans are treated far worse than anyone else Lamar.
Really? No one, Jim, has seen any evidence of it, can you please illustrate? although, I am aware of the inequities, I watch the PBS programs, hist, etc., I’m 12% indigenous my mother’s grandfather was 1/2 Cherokee and Chocta. As I’ve said many times, history of us all, period, is my thing, man, love it.
. . . You either REALLY believe that, or you’re ignorant of ‘our’ history, ’cause I’m well aware/versed in the hist. of the Indigenous., or how about this, not only “the white speaks with fork tongue.”
I think, we American shouldn’t do a trade. She was in there country, so she should pay. I fine her guilty. Sorry
She admits that, but your grammar is off not “there” but their country.
I think you are delusional to believe that less than a gram of hashish oil that she takes for pain mitigation is somehow a horrible enough offense that it requires 9 years of jail. russian jail no less which are hard labor camps in frozen Siberia. Its clear your bigotry is making your comments for you. They will attempt to bring her home and they should. Shes a fellow American. Why do t you try to judge less and route for a fellow citizen of America rather than cheer for our enemy Russia in their ridiculous punishment. If you cant… Read more »
Then perhaps not break laws in other countries you visit.
Exactly,especially countries that hate us.
That’s right! If you’re in their house, play by their rules!!!
Doesn’t matter! It’s the law. And she’s an idiot.
Isn’t it funny/tragic, those who can’t see past color (eye-role) “programmed.”
The Russian-Ukrainian war has been going on since 2014 and escalated to new heights on February 24, 2022, with the Russians invading Ukraine. Indeed, she broke their laws, and there should be a penalty but not 9.5 years. Yes, she shouldn’t have been there considering what was happening with the pending attack, but she would’ve never needed to be there if woman basketball players were making what men earn. Russia wanted American sports players and paid hefty prices to get them there. Regardless, she is a pawn in the political arena now. The U.S. has one of theirs, and now… Read more »
Perhaps WNBA players could earn the same as NBA players… if they would just bring in the same crowds and therefore earn the same revenues for their owners… DUH!! And then to make her like she’s some kinda victim of wage disparity… “Oh, if only she was making $4M, then she wouldn’t have had to go to Russia in the first place.” OMFG… puuuuleeeze!!!
Anyone who can read and has paid attention to salaries in the world’s compensation system would be smart enough to realize there is wage disparity, especially among women. All women in sports, in comparison to men, get paid less. Women’s sports are just as entertaining as men’s sports. Just ask the Williams sisters, who brought a lot of new fans to tennis in the last decade. Any idiot can see there is a bias. It is that bias that leads to lower salaries. WNBA players average about 90K/year compared to an NBA player making about 8M. I’m not saying they… Read more »
Well said Marc!! I commend you for your brilliant response!!!!! Thank you!!!
Every watch the WNBA? Didn’t think so. You realize that no one is owed a upper class lifestyle? And to play a kid’s game? Let them survive off gate receipts instead of being a tax write off for the NBA. How about letting some tranny players in their league? I’d pay to watch the fights
You speak with wisdom.. thank you.
Boo Hoo..Russia don’t play dat
It’s really sad to see her wanting the same country she openly hates to step in and arrange her freedom.
What’s next? Maybe she’ll find Jesus….
On the brightside, maybe she can reduce her sentence and coach the next Russians Olympic women basketball team.
Have you lived and been treated differently from childhood to the present? How you’re treated from the past, present and future can say a lot about how you view life in this country. I have a DD214 saying honorable discharge. Why do I now need a lawyer to fight for what was promise me when entered?
I salute you Wayne, a TRUE Patriot!!!! Keep fighting sir…
Because it’s not about the commoner, Wayne, regardless; told many white people, not sayin’ you are, there’s “caste system” in this country, not unlike most of the world.
But what certain people refuse to understand or admit to themselves in terms of REALITY is, you’re just another slave being given the “Kool-Aid” that too many choose to guzzle. I quit drinking it, lmao, I threw/throw it in the face of my country, which absolutely love, enough to speak out ’cause it’s clearly not as good as it could be.
She does Not HATE the country!!..She HATES the Racism in this country…and has EVERY right to protest it as she sees fit!….only dumbass White privilege men and women can’t’ comprehend this! She was simply caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time!
How about the racism that is the NBA? How about a race cap on sports teams? I’ve yet to see a Native American on an NBA squad, or a Salvo-American. Make the sports teams diverse then. Of course no one will pay to watch, which will kill the WNBA funding. Life is tough that way
??? When did she say she hates her country, where is everyone getting this bullshit from?!!!
Don’t take illegal substances to a foreign nation and the politicians would not need to waste time attempting to get her out.
Honesty, if youre in a foreign country, obey their laws. The USA is a more free country than any other. My standard is, if the person arrested wasnt famous, would the penalty be the same.
Let’s be prudent when we ascribe the word “Enemy” to the Russians. In 1941, America declared war on both Japan & Germany; each and both were called “The Enemies”: the Japanese were called “Geeks” and “Slanted-Eyes” and the Germans were called “Nazis” and “Krauts.” Today, both Japan and Germany are called “Allies.” Hence, “Enemies one day”; “Allies the next day”. Today, Russia is out “Enemy” as is “China.” America uses “Enemy/Enemies” interchangeably with those who disagree with out Western Culture and, sometime, misplaced sense of Righteousness? Ideologies are neither superior nor inferior; they are how samples of the World’s Population… Read more »
I agree with the others that she broke the law! WHY get a break just because you’re in a different country?
Let her rot over there since she hates the USA so much!
Who cares? She’s not a gay man, so what do you care? What a non-topic.
The irony being that in her time our very own VP would have locked her up for the exact same thing, right here on American soil…
This dyke deserves it. She broke their laws while over there grabbing money. She shit on America when she was here and now she wants American to save her. If I was president, I would make her pledge allegiance in America and apologize for every anti-American thing she did and said while enjoying the freedom and opportunities of America.
There’s a lesson in this , don’t go to a country that hates and distrusts the country you live in and commit a crime, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Imagine if a Russian athlete committed a crime that could get them a 9 year prison stay, we here would be screaming to hang’em high yet they’re supposed to show compassion? And how many Americans are in prison for marijuana offenses in the USA?
Bottom line is, she is a “political prisoner,” makes me wonder what would have happened had this happened with you know who would have still been in the white house as Putin’s bitch.
She’d be home
she committed a crime in Russia, she knew what she was doing, no hero, just another criminal