Brittney Griner: Russia confirms US basketball player’s 9-year drug sentence. White House: “Farce trial” – Corriere.it

Brittney Griner remains in prison in Russia. The court of Krasnogorsk rejected the appeal presented by the lawyers of the American basketball player, confirming the decision taken in Khimki last August 4: the player sentenced to nine years and six months in prison, in addition to the payment of a fine of one million rubles ( 16,280 euros), for possession of drugs. «We are aware of the news from Russia. Brittney Griner will continue to be unfairly detained under intolerable circumstances after that another sham trialThe immediate reaction of the White House, in the voice of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Who then recalled how the president Joe Biden continues to ask for “the immediate release” of the player. At the moment, in vain.

Griner, 32 on October 18, was arrested on February 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport because she was found in possession of a vaporizer and some cartridges with hashish-based essential oils. Olympic champion in 2016 and 2021, Phoenix Mercury player, during the break of the Wnba (Women’s National Basketball Association) championship Brittney has been playing for seven years in Russia, in Ekaterinburg, to keep fit. She is an activist of the LGBT community: she is the first openly lesbian player to have signed a sponsorship contract with Nike.

«In recent weeks – added Sullivan – the president has continued to dialogue with Russia through every available channel and to make every effort to bring Brittney home and ask for the release of the other Americans detained in Russia, including Paul Whelan. He has shown (the president, editor’s note) that he is willing to go much further, ready to make difficult decisions to bring American citizens back home ». Sullivan added that the White House is “in regular contact with the families and continues to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.”