Griner’s lawyers said the sentence was manifestly disproportionate to the amount of drug found in Griner’s possession on February 17, a week before Russia deployed troops to invade Ukraine.
“We still think the punishment is excessive and contradicts existing judicial practice,” Boykov said in a joint statement with lawyer Maria Blagovolina.
Brittney Griner’s lawyers Maria Blagovolina (left) and Alexander Boykov (center) said the ruling was “excessive” and will consider further options for legal recourse. sources: AAP / Ivan Vodopyanov
What was she accused of?
The Khimki City Court imposed a fine of one million rubles ($ 25,144) and a nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence in one of more than 650 criminal institutions in Russia, where prisoners work long hours and survive on a minimum of four hours of sleep.
“That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges, but I had no intention of breaking the law.”
Where does Griner’s ruling fit into the spectrum of drug charges?
Griner was found carrying vaporizer cartridges with 0.7 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on February 17.
The guilty plea was seen by some analysts as a strategy to facilitate a prisoner swap and a concession that acquittal was not an option.
What are the concerns raised about your case?
Officials said they were actively negotiating his release as a “top priority” and had reclassified his status as “wrongfully detained”.
Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner was unsuccessful in appealing to her conviction for cannabis possession in Russia and now faces the prospect of serving more than nine years in a Russian penal colony. sources: Getty / Kirill Kudryavtsev
“This step [Griner’s conviction] highlights our significant concerns about the Russian legal system and the Russian government’s use of illegal detentions to advance its agenda, using individuals as political pawns, “said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
This would avoid giving Mr. Biden a political victory to boost his campaign.
What happens now?
“Thank you all for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me,” she said.
“Brittney’s biggest fear is that she won’t be traded and will have to serve her entire sentence in Russia. She had hopes for today as every month, every day away from her family and friends is important to her,” the statement said. joint of lawyers.
The Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun team up before the game in support of Brittney Griner on August 4, 2022 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Basketball stars, including NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry, have added their voices to requests for Griner’s release. sources: Getty / Chris Marion / NBAE
They include the decisions made by Griner’s legal team and information provided by the Russian authorities about his transfer to a penal colony.
“Ultimately, it’s about illicit inmates. It’s about Americans; it’s about the lives of individuals who have been separated from their families for the better part of a year in Brittney Griner’s case and the better part of four years when it comes to Paul. Whelan [a former US Marine jailed in Russia in 2020 on spying charges]”he said in a media briefing after the appeal decision.
How could Griner be treated in prison?
In Russia, the enlargement of the so-called “gay propaganda” law in 2013 makes it illegal to talk about “promoting non-traditional sexual orientation”.
“Anytime something could happen and we need to stay focused and united in our call to immediately return BG to his family,” he said in a Twitter post.
