Brittney Griner lost her appeal on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, after a Russian court upheld her nine-year jail term.
Brittney Griner’s jail term appeal rejected by Russian court
As per The Washington Post, Griner lost her bid to have her nine-year sentence for drug possession overturned by a Russian court on Tuesday. Consequently, this puts her one step closer to a potentially risky prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist was found guilty on 4 August 2022 on drug charges after police discovered marijuana oil-infused vape cartridges in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February 2022.
The 32-year-old appeared via video link from a prison colony outside the city even though she was not present at the Moscow Regional Court hearing.
Griner confirmed having the canisters in her suitcase at her trial. However, she claimed she packed them accidentally in a rush to catch her trip. In addition, she stated that it did not have any malicious purpose. Moreover, her defence team provided documents stating that she had been given cannabis as a prescription to relieve chronic pain.
Furthermore, Griner’s attorneys contended that the punishment was harsh after the conviction because the nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years. According to them, defendants in situations like these received an average sentence of five years, with about a third being given parole.
The court upheld the sentence but ordered Griner’s prison term to be revised. The reason is to account for the time she has already spent in pre-trial detention. Although, she will still have to serve about eight years in prison because one day of pre-trial custody will be counted as one and a half days in jail.
The public reacts to Griner’s rejected appeal
Of course, the news of Griner’s rejected appeal caused quite a stir on social media. Now, the public is calling for justice and freedom for the basketball player. Here’s what they had to say: