|
Griner was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs by police
after the ruling, turning to reporters and saying: "I love my
family".
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and Women's National
Basketball Association (WNBA) star, was arrested in mid-February
as she arrived to play for a Russian side during the WNBA
offseason. Her case threw the Texan into the geopolitical
maelstrom triggered when President Vladimir Putin sent troops
into Ukraine on Feb. 24, propelling U.S.-Russian relations to a
new post-Cold War low.
Her sentencing could now pave the way for a U.S.-Russia prisoner
swap that would include the 31-year-old athlete and an
imprisoned Russian who was once a prolific arms dealer.
Griner had admitted having the vape cartridges containing
hashish oil but said she had made an honest mistake by
inadvertently packing them.
Before the verdict, she tearfully pleaded with a Russian judge
not to "end her life" with a harsh prison sentence. The court
also fined her 1 million roubles ($16,990).
Biden, under pressure to bring home Americans held in Russia,
called on Russia to free Griner immediately and said his
administration would continue to work for her release.
"Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison
sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already
knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney," he said in a
statement.
"It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her
immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends,
and teammates."
National security spokesperson John Kirby later on Thursday
urged Russia to accept a "serious proposal" Washington made
weeks ago for Griner's release.
Griner's lawyers said they would appeal a verdict they said was
"absolutely unreasonable". Her defence team said the court had
ignored all evidence they had presented, as well as Griner's
guilty plea.
"She is very upset, very stressed," said Maria Blagovolina,
partner at Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Partners, after the
hearing. "She can hardly talk. It's a difficult time for her."
The Russian prosecutor had called for Griner to be sentenced to
9-1/2 years prison if she was found guilty of bringing illegal
drugs into the country.
'HONEST MISTAKE'
Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17
with the cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. While
she pleaded guilty, she said she had neither intended to bring a
banned substance to Russia nor to hurt anybody.
"I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that
it doesn't end my life here," Griner said in court on Thursday
before breaking down in tears.
"My parents taught me two important things: one, take ownership
of your responsibilities and two, work hard for everything that
you have. That's why I pled guilty to my charges."
"I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any
Russians laws," she told the court. "I had no intent, I did not
conspire or plan to commit this crime."
Griner also referred to the international politics around her
case, saying: "I know everybody keeps talking about political
pawn and politics, but I hope that is far from this courtroom".
Cannabis is illegal in Russia for both medicinal and
recreational purposes.
Griner's defence team had called for her to be acquitted.
Alexander Boikov, one of her lawyers, said some of the case
files had been drawn up in violation of the law.
PRISONER SWAP
The United States has offered to exchange Russian prisoners for
American citizens including Griner and former Marine Paul
Whelan.
One source familiar with the situation said Washington was
willing to exchange convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, whose
life helped inspire the 2005 Hollywood film "Lord of War"
starring Nicholas Cage.
Russian officials have said a deal has not been reached. They
argue that Griner - known as "BG" to basketball fans - violated
laws and should be judged accordingly.
USA Basketball said in a message on Twitter it was disappointed
at Thursday's ruling but it would remain engaged with the U.S.
State Department in the effort to get Griner home.
"We will not be satisfied until BG is back in the U.S. and
reunited with her loved ones, teammates and fans," it said.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam
Silver said in a statement that the verdict against Griner was
"unjustified and unfortunate."
Griner appeared at the hearing in a grey T-shirt and
round-rimmed glasses. Before taking a seat in the defendant's
cage, she held up a picture of UMMC Ekaterinburg, the team she
played for in Russia during the WNBA offseason.
In her testimony last week, Griner expressed puzzlement as to
how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was
flying to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs.
Teammates and friends urged the Biden administration and Putin's
government to negotiate her release.
"I hope that, now that the sentencing has occurred, the trial is
over, no more court, that the negotiations will proceed," her
high school basketball coach Debbie Jackson told Reuters.
"I’m praying that both sides will negotiate in good faith and
that Brittney and other Americans that are in Russian prison can
come back home."
($1 = 58.8500 roubles)
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew
Cawthorne, Frances Kerry and Daniel Wallis)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
