A Russian court has rejected an appeal by U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, a step that could move her closer to a possible high-stakes prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is seen on the bottom part of a TV screen as she waits to appear in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service a courtroom prior to a hearing at the Moscow Regional Court in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. A Russian court on Tuesday started hearing American basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.
At her trial, Griner admitted to having the canisters in her luggage but testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements saying she had been prescribed cannabis to treat chronic pain. Griner's lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in an email that they were “very disappointed” with the decision because they still believe “the punishment is excessive and contradicts to the existing court practice.”
President Joe Biden told reporters that his administration is in “constant contract” with Russian authorities on Griner and other Americans who are detained there. While there has not been progress on bringing her back to the U.S., Biden said, “We’re not stopping.”, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to be"wrongfully detained" — a charge that Russia has sharply rejected.
Blinken didn’t elaborate, but The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “merchant of death.”Russian diplomats have refused to comment on the U.S. proposal and urged Washington to discuss the matter in confidential talks, avoiding public statements.
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Brittney Griner will appeal her prison sentence in Russia on Tuesday'Brittney does not expect any miracles to happen but hopes that the appeal court will hear the arguments of the defense and reduce the term,' her lawyers said in a statement.
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Brittney Griner will appeal her prison sentence in Russia on Tuesday'Brittney does not expect any miracles to happen but hopes that the appeal court will hear the arguments of the defense and reduce the term,' her lawyers said in a statement.
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Ukraine live briefing: Brittney Griner appeal rejected; Russia doubles down on ‘dirty bomb’ claimAt the U.N. Security Council, Russia could repeat its accusation that Ukraine will use a bomb on its own territory — a claim the West has dismissed.
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