US basketball star Brittney Griner has appealed her nine-year sentence in Russia for drug smuggling. At the same time, an exchange of prisoners is being negotiated.
US basketball player Brittney Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia, has appealed the verdict. This was reported by several Russian news agencies on Monday, citing Griner’s lawyer Maria Blagowolina. Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February with a small amount of hashish and convicted by a court in the Russian capital in early August. Internationally, the verdict triggered a wave of solidarity with the 31-year-old athlete.
Upon arrival at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, so-called vape cartridges and hashish oil were found on Griner. It is said to have been 0.5 grams. This was ruled as illegal drug possession and attempted smuggling. Griner pleaded guilty but stressed that she did not intend to violate Russian law. However, the court in Moscow did not recognize any mitigating circumstances.
Brittney Griner could be traded for arms dealer
The USA sharply criticized the decision of the Russian judiciary and demanded the release of the basketball player. Despite deep political differences between Moscow and Washington, the American side hopes that Griner will be exchanged for a Russian citizen in US captivity. The Kremlin, in turn, recently criticized the public debate about the possibility of such a deal, but confirmed the talks between the two countries.
The possible prisoner exchange is also about the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The head of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Datschjew, told the state news agency TASS. “Discussions on the very sensitive issue of an exchange are going through the channels chosen by our Presidents,” he added.
According to US media reports, Griner and US soldier Paul Whelan could be exchanged for arms dealer Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US.
Source: Stern
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