Rejecting appeal, Russian court upholds 9-year sentence for WNBA player Brittney Griner

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Rejecting her appeal, a Russian court on Tuesday upheld a nine-year prison sentence for WNBA player Brittney Griner.

Griner’s lawyers had asked the Moscow Region Court to overturn the verdict against her as being too severe for the nature of the crime.

Griner's lawyer Alexander Boykov called the sentence "unjust" and asked for an acquittal or at least leniency.

"We believe that the Khimki court mistakenly established criminal intent, Griner did not have it. At the same time, she fully admitted her guilt, and the court took into account only a partial admission of guilt," he said.

Griner, taking part in the hearing via videoconference, also asked for a reduction in her nine-year jail sentence.

Griner, 31, was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on suspicion of trying to illegally import hashish oil into Russia.

She pleaded guilty in July to drug charges, but has maintained she used medicinal cannabis to treat pain and denied intending to violate Russian law.

In August, Moscow’s Khimki City Court sentenced Griner to nine years in prison and a fine of 1 million rubles ($15,500).

Calling the sentence “unacceptable,” US President Joe Biden urged Russia “to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”

One of the world's top basketball players, Griner helped the US Women’s National Basketball Team win two Olympic golds (2016 and 2020) and two world championships, in Türkiye (2014) and in Spain (2018).

In Russia she had played for BC UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014.