Found GUILTY…She’s Handed A Harsh Sentence

WNBA star  Brittney Griner was found guilty of drug charges in a Russian court on Thursday. Shortly after she was sentenced to nine years, nearly a decade, in a Russian prison.

Russian prosecutors argued that Griner should serve 9 1/2 years in prison for drug trafficking. Griner was convicted of sneaking marijuana vaping materials into the country,

Although the American justice system is far from perfect, the Russians surely have us beat. Griner’s outrageous sentencing should put things into perspective in comparison for everyone, including basketball player turned activist LeBron James. Griner’s sentence proves just how unjust are other systems around the world.

Due to her celebrity status Americans have treated Griner’s case with undue deference.

There are other American citizens who are held in Russian jail cells that most don’t even know about. But Griner being an American athlete and gay, she has been treated with celebrity adulation.

Although, the verdict was announced uncharacteristically swift, it was not a surprise that she was found guilty. Judges in Russia have considerable latitude on sentencing.

The Biden Administration and  U.S. officials have been trying to negotiate her release, even considering an offer that would trade the WNBA player for a notorious Russian arms dealer.

Here’s what Griner said prior to the delivery of the verdict in the Khimki city courthouse:

“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here. 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 is far from this courtroom.”

The Daily Wire report more details below:

Griner had already acknowledged having vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage in a guilty plea last month, but Russian judges nonetheless have wide discretion in meting out sentences. She faced up to 10 years, and prosecutors sought most of that.

Maria Blagovolina, a lawyer on Griner’s defense team, argued that Griner brought the cartridges to Russia by mistake and only used cannabis as medicine and only while in Arizona, where medical marijuana is legal.

Griner, who plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, had flown to Russia to finish her season for UMMC Ekaterinburg when she was arrested. The team competes in the Russian Premier League and FIBA Europe’s EuroLeague. WNBA players can make far bigger salaries playing in Europe and Asia during the league’s off-season than they can earn in the United States, where interest in women’s basketball is limited.

Before the trial began last month, the State Department designated her as “wrongfully detained.” Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept an exchange in which Griner and Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction, would be freed, reportedly for notorious arms trader Viktor Bout.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday Russia has made a “bad faith” counter-offer in response to the U.S. government’s offer.

Griner’s defense team made the argument, in earlier court hearings, that she used medical cannabis in the past to help with pain from injuries.

Medical marijuana is illegal in Russia.

Source: DailyWire

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