WNBA star Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years in prison by Russian judge for drug possession and smuggling (UP: Released)

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Edit: To clarify for those unfamiliar with this story, she was caught with a ridiculously small amount of cannabis oil and the punishment is beyond absurd.

Prisoner exchange with the U.S. still on the table.


View: https://twitter.com/ap/status/1555215953151098885?s=21&t=VfKFP6cmAiblSnPCk3E5WA

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a politically charged trial that came amid soaring tensions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine and could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between the two world powers.

The 31-year-old Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and a eight-time all-star with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury listened with a blank expression as an interpreter translated the verdict by Judge Anna Sotnikova. The judge also fined her 1 million rubles (about $16,700) fine.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the verdict and sentence as "unacceptable."

"I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," Biden said, adding that he would continue to work to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction.

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[XenodudeX]

Russian prison. Jesus. Hope we can get her out of there.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

As if Russia ever intended to give her a fair trial.

 

[UltimateHigh]

they need to get her out of there. That's some horseshit.

 

[Cantaim]

Completely ridiculous, poor woman got screwed by the Russian government. Hopefully Russia won't continue to ask for impossible prisoner swaps and we can get her home.

 

[Trey]

shit is ugly

 

[Dan-o]

It's worth mentioning that "drug possession and smuggling" in this case was something totally ridiculously small like 1g of cannabis oil, if I recall correctly.

This sentencing is terrible.

 

[Stat]

Nine years. Just incredibly sad.

 

[sfedai0]

Isnt this sentencing just to put pressure on the US for a better swap or have the talks been abandoned?

 

[alr1ght]

"Drug smuggling"

Just an awful situation all around.

 

[svacina]

I guess they really want their gun runner back, eh.

 

[Socivol]

Absolutely insanity. Hopefully they get her home soon.

 

[BringBackSonics]

It is outrageous what Russia is doing to her.

 

[Reckheim]

Isnt this sentencing just to put pressure on the US for a better swap or have the talks been abandoned?

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That's all it is, that's why they slapped the 'smuggling' charge on there. Its ridiculous; but this way they get to theoretically keep her as a trading chip for the next 9 years.

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

Isnt this sentencing just to put pressure on the US for a better swap or have the talks been abandoned?

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Blatantly this is what this is, like N. Korea and Iran. Dangling civilians' suffering in their prisons for political gain.

 

[Warhawk4Ever]

While I definitely want us to do everything within reason to getting her home, exchanging the gun smuggler that Russia wants would be a nogo for me.

 

[Xando]

Isnt this sentencing just to put pressure on the US for a better swap or have the talks been abandoned?

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They wanted to exchange a arms dealer and a assasin currently sitting on life in germany in exchange for her. Since germany said no they'll either have to find something better or she stays in prison

 

[Threadkular]

That's really awful

 

[Dreams-Visions]

fuck.

 

[WascallyWabbit]

This is just one of those things that's just sad cuz it doesn't seem we can do much about it realistically
Like isn't Russia demanding someone who's in a German jail?

 

[Strike]

Yeesh. Hope they do get her out of there.

 

[TaySan]

I hope we can get her out of there :( Horrible

 

[Bear]

Yeah, the punishment is way worse than the crime.

Hope they're able to get her out of there.

Edited.

 

[Richiek]

Isnt this sentencing just to put pressure on the US for a better swap or have the talks been abandoned?

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The deal is still pending. This is just added incentive to get it done.

Fuck Russia.

Like yeah of course the punishment is way worse than the crime. But it's also incredibly stupid to bring drugs into Russia. Like, incredibly stupid.

Hope they're able to get her out of there.

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Can we not victim blame, please?

 

[HiLife]

Wow.

 

[psynergyadept]

This was a kangaroo court case from the jump…..just used as a political pawn for Russia to flex its might..

 

[Scuffed]

Sickening. Russia is a complete joke though so not surprised at all.

 

[TrojanAg]

9 years for fucking weed. Give me a break.

 

[perfectchaos007]

This is just one of those things that's just sad cuz it doesn't seem we can do much about it realistically
Like isn't Russia demanding someone who's in a German jail?

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Oof. Does the US have any Russian prisoners that the Kremlin would want to swap for? If not, then I don't think there's anything the US can do at this point to get Brittany home aside from money bribes of course.

 

[VAD]

Holy shit, the US did not want to negotiate? They fucking left her to rot.

 

[Vidpixel]

So fucking stupid and ridiculous.

 

[thetrin]

I hope the State Dept. acts fast. She does not deserve to rot in a Russian prison.

 

[Richiek]

Holy shit, the US did not want to negotiate? They fucking left her to rot.

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Did you not read the OP?

 

[VorpalNonsense]

just some bullshit to turn her into a political bargaining chip
abominable shit

 

[Lotus]

Abhorrent

 

[HamSandwich]

$16,000 equivalent fine to match with 9 years in prison. You can tell this is political based on how unproportionate that is

 

[Dodongo]

Fuck Russia. They deserve the isolation that's coming.

 

[B-Dubs]

I hope the State Dept. acts fast. She does not deserve to rot in a Russian prison.

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They've been trying. Hell, they offered to free a Russian arms dealer to get her out. Russia refused. Apparently they want a spy who executed a guy on the street in Germany in exchange for her.

 

[Netherscourge]

Holy shit, the US did not want to negotiate? They fucking left her to rot.

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Russia just went ahead and convicted her in the middle of negotiations.

They're still negotiating.

 

[MasterChumly]

Holy shit, the US did not want to negotiate? They fucking left her to rot.

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We literally tried to give them an actual criminal in exchange

 

[AtomLung]

Half the country is so crazy and racist they hate the hostage and are warm towards the hostage taker.

 

[Euler]

Fuck Russia.

 

[WascallyWabbit]

Oof. Does the US have any Russian prisoners that the Kremlin would want to swap for? If not, then I don't think there's anything the US can do at this point to get Brittany home aside from money bribes of course.

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I dunno, negotiations are still ongoing but Putin and co. prob trying to make a point against all NATO countries

 

[LegendofJoe]

Half the country is so crazy and racist they hate the hostage and are warm towards the hostage taker.

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Yeah, I've seen a lot of "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime" type responses from the usual suspects. You know beyond a shadow of a doubt if it was Tom Brady instead their tune would be completely different.

 

[Ze_Shoopuf]

Is Russia on a "don't travel there" list?

Because at this point it's obvious if you ever travel to Russia you're just YOLO, since they can come up with any excuse to arrest and detain and imprison you.

Despicable.

 

[Tace]

Fucking outrageous what's been done to her. Hope we get her out soon

 

[5taquitos]

Is Russia on a "don't travel there" list?

Because at this point it's obvious if you ever travel to Russia you're just YOLO, since they can come up with any excuse to arrest and detain and imprison you.

Despicable.

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She was there in February to compete before the war broke out

Obviously no one is traveling there now

 

[Yeeeeeeeeeer]

gross. i feel sorry for her. f russia

 

[BloodHound]

Oof. Does the US have any Russian prisoners that the Kremlin would want to swap for? If not, then I don't think there's anything the US can do at this point to get Brittany home aside from money bribes of course.

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They want a spy....that we don't have.

 

[Paroni]

This is just one of those things that's just sad cuz it doesn't seem we can do much about it realistically
Like isn't Russia demanding someone who's in a German jail?

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Not only that, the man Russia wants, Vadim Krasikov, is in prison for murder of a Chechen rebel in Berlin. They literally want Germany to free an assassin in exchange for her.