Brittney Griner news – update: WNBA star heads to penal colony where abuse, forced work common
The Russian court said that the remaining time the 32-year-old WNBA star must serve will be recalculated based on her pre-trial detention
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A Russian court has denied American basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal to reduce her prison sentence for drug possession.
Tuesday’s denial paves the way for Ms Griner to serve nine years in a prison colony, unless the US government is able to negotiate a deal for her release.
In her final statement delivered via video from a detention centre outside Moscow, Griner emphasised how mentally taxing her eight-month detention and two trials had been, adding: “I was barely over the significant amount [of cannabis oil] ... People with more severe crimes have gotten less than what I was given.”
“I did not intend to do this,” she closed, before asking the court to take into account the fact that she had pleaded guilty.
The White House immediately struck out at the verdict, calling it “another sham judicial proceeding” in a statement released Tuesday morning while the US Embassy in Moscow lamented that it was another “sad day for the rule of law in Russia”.
Lawyers for the 32-year-old said in a statement on Tuesday that it could be “up to a few months” before she is transferred to a penal colony, where she is expected to serve out the remainder of her sentence.
Russian court begins hearing Griner appeal
A Russian court began hearing an appeal by US WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner on Tuesday against her conviction and nine-year jail sentence for possession and smuggling of drugs. The court session began after a nearly two-hour adjournment requested by her lawyers.
Three judges were presiding over the appeals court in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, while Griner was taking part via video link from a detention centre in the town of Novoye Grishino, just outside Moscow.
Elizabeth Rood, the US chargee d'affaires in Moscow, was present at Tuesday's appeal hearing.
Griner appears ‘depleted’ while appearing via video in court
NBC reporter Molly Hunter shared a picture from the news outlet’s correspondent based in Moscow, who is attending the appeal hearing for WNBA star Brittney Griner on Tuesday.
“Our reporter in court, who has a closer view of Brittney Griner’s screen, says she’s looks particularly depleted today. Sad, tired. (Understandably.)” tweeted Ms Hunter, while sharing a picture of Ms Griner’s screen from inside the Russian courtroom.
Griner’s defense debates pre-detention time served
As Brittney Griner reportedly vented her frustration about being unable to hear people in the courtroom as she appeared via a video link, asking them to speak louder, her defence team argued that the expert who analysed the cartridges that led to her arrest was “unqualified” and that there were procedural violations throughout the investigation and detention, NBC News reported.
“Defense team now arguing: Given the lack of intent and given Griner’s contribution to Russian sports, the Defense considers the punishment “excessively harsh.” Defense team asks to cancel the current sentence of nearly 9 years and hand down a new sentence,” tweeted Molly Hunter with NBC News.
The foreign correspondent added that there was some confusion about pre-detention time served and how that time would be counted towards Ms Griner’s sentence.
“There’s debate over the exact length of sentencing - does 1 pre-detention day equal 1 full sentence day?” tweeted Ms Hunter. “No, apparently. Her 8 months of pre-detention counts for 12 months of her sentence. So everyone agrees the current sentence means she has 8 YEARS remaining.”
Griner’s lawyers: Sentence doesn’t align with international or Russian legal norms
One of Brittney Griner’s lawyers, Alexander Boykov, argued while making an emotional and reportedly “personal” address to the court that the nine-year sentence that was handed down to the WNBA star in August not only doesn’t align with international law, but breaks from Russian “legal norms”.
“Defense lawyer Alexander Boykov speaking now, sounds emotional and personal, according to our reporter in court,” tweeted NBA reporter Molly Hunter. “Says he deeply sympathizes with Griner and argues that not only does the verdict not line up with int’l legal norms -- it’s also outside of Russian legal norms.”
Lawyers argue Griner’s sentence ‘excessively harsh'
Brittney Griner’s defence team pushed back against the nine-year sentence that was handed down to the WNBA star this past summer, insisting that it was “excessive”.
“The punishment imposed on Griner does not correspond to the gravity of the crime,” Maria Blagovolina, one of Ms Griner’s lawyers, said on Tuesday in the Russian courtroom. “Nine years in prison is a sentence that contradicts judicial practice.”
“There was no intent in her actions ... The substance was used for medical purposes.”
Griner’s lawyers ask for acquittal or reduction in ‘cruel’ sentence
Brittney Griner’s lawyers asked the Russian courtroom where the WNBA star’s appeal was being heard for an acquittal or a reduction in the “cruel” nine-year sentence she received last August.
“The Defense team officially asks for an acquittal or reduced sentence,” tweeted NBC reporter Molly Hunter, who noted that the statement, all in Russian, was now being translated to Ms Griner, who had tuned in to the proceedings via a grainy video link.
‘No athlete should be used as a political pawn’: Activists, supporters and WNBA union react to Griner’s rejection
Online commemorations and messages of support began pouring in in the hours after a Russian court upheld Brittney Griner’s nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, a charge that has seen the WNBA star held in a detention centre for the past eight months and will soon send her to one of the country’s harsh penal colonies.
“Brittney Griner’s appeal was denied. I can only imagine how scared and/or hopeless she must feel,” wrote American writer and professor Roxane Gay on Twitter.
“We must continue to fight for Brittney Griner’s freedom,” tweeted activist Jamia Wilson
This appeal is further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained - she is very clearly a hostage,” wrote the WNBPA, the union representing players in the WNBA, in a statement on Tuesday. “No athlete should be used as a political pawn.”
US Secretary of State says securing Griner’s release is US priority
US Secretary of State had strong words for Russia after a Moscow court upheld the decision to sentence WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for a charge of drug possession, which the Biden official characterised as “another failure of justice”.
“Today’s denial of appeal for Brittney Griner is another failure of justice, compounding the injustice of her detention,” tweeted Anthony Blinken on Tuesday. “Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney, and nothing about her conviction or the denial of this appeal changes that. Securing her release is our priority.”
Dawn Staley, Griner’s former Olympic coach, accuses Russia of using WNBA star as ‘political pawn'
Brittney Griner’s former Olympic coach and friend Dawn Staley reacted to the 32-year-old’s appeal getting rejected on Tuesday, as a Russian court upheld the nine-year prison sentence that was handed down to her this past summer.
“I do think there’s more to it than what she’s been sentenced for. She is a political pawn,” said Ms Staley. “We must do something for Brittney and her family, and the rest of our prisoners who are wrongly detained and in other countries.”
Watch the full clip below:
White House urges safe return of Brittney Griner
Karine Jean-Pierre told her daily briefing that the Biden administration would increase its efforts to bring the WNBA star back to the US.
“Our hearts are with Brittney Griner, her wife and her family, friends and teammates in light of the appalling news out of Russia today. This news only increases the urgency of our efforts to bring (her) home,” she said.
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