Brittney Griner: American basketball player sentenced to 9 years in prison in Russia for drug charges | World News

A Russian judge has sentenced and sentenced American basketball player Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug possession and trafficking.

President Joe Biden described the prison sentence as “unacceptable” and called for her immediate release.

Judge Anna Sotnikova said Griner’s time in custody since her arrest in February will count towards the sentence.

Griner reacted to the provision with some emotion and listened to the verdict with a stare into her blank face, as the judge handed down her sentence and fined the basketball player 1 million rubles (£ 13.435).

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence, another reminder of what the world already knows: Russia is wrongly holding Brittney,” Biden said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable, and I urge Russia to release her immediately so that she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates.”

The 31-year-old was arrested at Moscow airport on February 17 after police said they found a vape box containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

She pleaded guilty and before the verdict was delivered on Thursday, Griner told the court she had no intention of breaking the law by flying to Russia to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg.

“I would like to apologize to my teammates, my club, the fans and the city (Yekaterinburg) for the mistake I made and the shame I brought to them,” Griner said. Her voice cracked.

“I also want to apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury back home, the wonderful women of the WNBA, and my wonderful partner back home.

“I made an honest mistake and I hope that, in your judgment, it doesn’t end my life here.”

While gathering evidence and presenting his findings, the judge held that Phoenix Mercury player illegally brought drugs into Russia.

Griner’s attorney said they would appeal the verdict, adding that the court had ignored the evidence it presented as well as the plea.

They said they were “disappointed” by the ruling.

The Russian prosecutor has called the two-time Olympic gold medalist to a sentence of 9-1/2 years in prison.

“I love my family,” said Griner, as she was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

After the ruling, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the sentence “combined with the injustice of her wrongful detention”, with the White House national security spokesman adding that Mr Blinken would try talking to his Russian counterpart, Antony Blinken.

He used to high stakes prisoner swap proposalGriner and Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges, can be seen freed.

Russian officials objected to US claims about the incident, saying a possible deal should be discussed through “silent diplomacy, speculative non-disclosure”.

The WNBA and NBA described the sentencing as “unjustified and regrettable, but not unexpected”.

The basketball league said in a joint statement: “The WNBA and NBA commitment to her safe return has not been shaken, and we hope that we are nearing the end of this process to finally brought BG back to the United States,” the basketball federation said in a joint statement.