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Brittney Griner Faces 9-Year Sentence in Russia. What Are the Next Steps to Bring Her Home?

Brittney Griner, via PBS.

Last Thursday, WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in jail for smuggling cannabis oil into Russia. The basketballer was detained in February after Russian customs claimed to find less than 1 gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.

Griner’s case raises concerns that she is being used as a political pawn in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which officially began soon after her arrest. 

Earlier this year, Senior Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said, according to The Guardian, “I think there’s no doubt that her detention, and then this continuation of the imprisonment, is all to try to make her a hostage and a part of this chess game.”

As Griner’s trial began, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned not to draw any conclusions about Griner’s detainment, as it would hinder her freedom. “Attempts by the American side to make noise in public…don’t help the practical settlement of issues.”

Ryabkov continued, saying that, until the trial is over, “There are no formal or procedural reasons  to talk about any further steps.” 

Now the trial is over. So what are the next steps?

The verdict

The verdict came roughly six months after Griner was arrested at a Moscow Airport. Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court “delivered the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400,” according to CNN. “She said the court took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities. Prosecutors had asked that she be sentenced to 9.5 years in jail.”

Prior to the verdict, Griner apologized to the court and asked for leniency. “I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner said.

“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, that is far from this courtroom.

“I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime,” she added.

After the sentence, Griner said, “I love my family.”

The basketballer had a doctor’s note for medical cannabis. A lawyer gave the court a U.S. doctor’s letter outlining a recommendation for Griner to use medical cannabis to treat pain. 

Griner pled guilty to the drug charges early in July, saying she did not mean to commit a crime and that she accidentally packed the prescription medicine when she was in a hurry. She said she was aware of Russia’s strict drug laws and was simply “stress packing.”

There is a 99% reported conviction rate in Russian criminal cases, which may have informed Griner’s decision to plead guilty. Her lawyers had hoped the guilty plea and emotional statements of remorse would result in a more lenient sentence. 

The average jail time for this type of crime in Russia is five years and almost a third of those convicted get parole.

After the verdict, Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, tweeted, “Today’s sentencing of Brittney Griner was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn.”

US President Joe Biden called the sentence “unacceptable” and demanded she is returned to the US.

What next?

Russian officials are “ready to discuss” a prisoner swap with the US now that Griner has been convicted. The Biden administration has offered to trade a Russian arms dealer for Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan.

Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that the Kremlin is “ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that has been agreed by the presidents,” state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

“There is a specified channel that has been agreed upon by [Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden], and no matter what anyone says publicly, this channel will remain in effect,” Lavrov reportedly said, at the Southeast Asian Nations summit.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that the US will “pursue” talks with Russia.

While the Russian and US governments talk about prisoner swaps, Griner’s lawyers will appeal the verdict. They “will file an appeal to the court’s decision, which it must do within 10 days of the verdict, according to her lawyers, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina, who is a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm,” reported CNN

“We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea,” they said in a statement.

The lawyers have argued that Griner’s detention was mishandled. Griner testified that she was forced to sign documents that she did not understand because she was not given adequate English translations.

Griner’s family, friends and supporters are continuing to fight for her freedom. 

Before the game between the Mercury and Connecticut Sun on Thursday night, players on both teams linked arms in solidarity and held a 42-second moment of silence for Griner, who wears the number 42 on her jersey. 

After it ended, people in the crowd began chanting, “Bring her home!”

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