On Thursday, a Russian court found two-time Olympic WNBA champion Brittney Griner guilty of having vape cartridges with marijuana. She was arrested in February at a Russian airport as she arrived to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian basketball team. Brittney Griner plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season. Her conviction follows a series of scrambles between Biden’s administration and the Russian government to secure her release.
This conviction has led to claims that Russia is using her as a political pawn, following the US stance on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. According to Brittney’s defense, the Russian airport authorities did not correctly examine the cartridges they found. She also retaliated by claiming she accidentally carried them and they were prescriptions for her injuries, and she has never used them in Russia.
News of her conviction has led to an uproar by Hollywood celebrities, with most of them expressing their frustration on social media against the Russian government. Amid the turmoil, President Biden has also aired his commitment to guaranteeing her release in his statement. He promised his administration would continue working tirelessly and pursue all possible avenues to bring Brittney home as soon as possible.
Before her conviction, she made a plea for leniency and even asked the court to consider her good character before deciding on it. She even pleaded not to be regarded as a political pawn, and her carrying of the cannabis can was an “honest mistake.” In her statement, she claimed Russia had become her second home and can vividly remember how little girls would wait on her as she came out of the gym, which is why she kept coming back.
Griner also claimed that he has never meant to hurt anybody, jeopardize the Russian population, or break any laws. In her final statement, she tearfully pleaded with the Russian judge not to end her life with the 92 year sentence suggested by the prosecutor. She apologized to UMMC and its fans for the embarrassment she had brought to them, she even apologized to her parents, siblings, her WNBA team, Phoenix Mercury, and her spouse
Regardless of her plea, the judge went ahead to sentencing her and fining her 1 million roubles, equivalent to $16,990.
Biden’s administration immediately asked Russia to accept the “serious proposal” they had made to guarantee Griner’s release through the National Security Spokesperson, John Kirby. This proposal was tabled by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken back in July. From his claim, the proposal was substantial, and they expected Russia to accept it.
When asked about the proposal, he declined to share any information. He adamantly brushed aside the reports’ tenacity and claimed that he couldn’t or won’t get into any details regarding the proposal He even declined to confirm if they plan to swap Brittney’s release with Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year prison term in the US.
The Russian government is yet to respond to US proposals. However, everyone hopes that things will resolve and have Brittney will be home as soon as possible.
