WNBA star Brittney Griner has just been sentenced to over nine years in a Russian prison for illegally bringing marijuana into the country. Previously arrested on February 17 of this year, the 31-year-old professional basketball player was reportedly caught with an electronic vape that embodied traces of cannabis oil – This act violated Article 229.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia which officially established the criminalization of illegal drug smuggling and trafficking.
Judge Anna Sotnikova gave the athlete her sentence this past Thursday, August 4, 2022, while informing everyone involved that the time Griner has already served will count towards her remaining time behind bars. After coming close to receiving the maximum sentence of 10 years, “I love my family” was the only words Brittney could speak as she exited the courtroom: The Phoenix Mercury star is the mother of two twin girls and the wife to her romantic partner Cherelle Watson, whom she became engaged to back in 2018.
Just days before her trial commenced, United States President Joe Biden confirmed an official trade offer that would swap out the WNBA player for one of Russia’s most dangerous arms dealers, Viktor Bout. Russia having yet to agree to Biden’s terms would lead to the president vocalizing his opinions on the recent update towards one of his American citizens’ overseas situation. “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,” President Biden stated. “It is unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”