Brittney Griner, the American women’s basketball star, was convicted of intentionally importing drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday in a case that has prompted suspicions that she is being exploited as a political pawn in Russia’s conflict against Ukraine.
The verdict was issued by Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court, who fined Griner 1 million rubles, or nearly $16,400.
She stated that the court considered Brittney Griner’s partial acknowledgment of guilt, remorse for the deed, health, and humanitarian actions. Prosecutors had requested for a sentence of 9.5 years in prison.
Brittney Griner apologized to the court and requested leniency in an impassioned speech prior to the verdict.
The verdict comes almost six months after the 31-year-old was seized at a Moscow airport and accused by Russian prosecutors of attempting to smuggle less than one gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.
Last month, the two-time US Olympic basketball gold champion pled guilty to drug charges, claiming she mistakenly packed the substances while rushing.
Griner’s attorneys, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said in a written statement that they will appeal the ruling and that the court ignored their evidence. They have 10 days to file an appeal.
Boykov stated outside of court that the average sentence for this type of crime is five years in prison, and that nearly one-third of those convicted receive parole.
