Lawyers for American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced in Russia to nine years in prison for possessing cannabis oil, said before an appeal in the case on Tuesday that their client was not expecting a miracle from the Russian justice system.
Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic champion with Team USA, was detained on February 17 at a Moscow airport after vape devices with cannabis oil in them were found in her luggage. After six-month detention, the basketball player was sentenced on August 4 on charges of drug possession and trafficking.
Brittney Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said that she will join the hearing via video link from the detention center where she is being held. The two expressed the expectation that a decision on the case would be made the same day.
“She is very tense in anticipation of the appeal. Britney, however, does not expect any miracles and reversal of the sentence, but rather that the court will hear her arguments and reduce her punishment”, explained Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov.
During the trial, Brittney Griner pleaded guilty but explained that she made a mistake and did not intend to break the law. Authorities in Washington have repeatedly said over the past eight months that the basketball player is being held unlawfully and called for her release. Former US ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson even added that this could happen by the end of this year if Moscow agrees to a prisoner exchange.
In addition to Brittney Griner, another American citizen – former naval officer Paul Whelan – has been detained in Russia on similar charges since 2021. In exchange, Russian authorities want the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence.
