President Biden Calls On Russia To Release 'Wrongfully Detained' Brittney Griner "Immediately"

President Biden Calls On Russia To Release ‘Wrongfully Detained’ Brittney Griner “Immediately”

US basketball player Brittney Griner holds photos inside a defendants’ cage before a court hearing during her trial on charges of drug smuggling, in Khimki, outside Moscow on August 2, 2022. – Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport in February 2022 just days before Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine. She was charged with drug smuggling for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. Speaking at the trial on July 27, Griner said she still did not know how the cartridges ended up in her bag. (Photo by EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Brittney Griner was found guilty on drug possession and smuggling charges in a courtroom in Russia on Thursday. Soon after that news came down, she would be sentenced to nine years in prison and a $16,500 fine (1,000,000 rubles).

Following the decision, President Joe Biden released a statement critical of the verdict, calling it “unacceptable” and calling on Russia to “release her immediately.”

President Biden statement, in part: "Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately…”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 4, 2022

President Biden:

"Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately…”

(h/t @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/rkHAiwkDOu
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 4, 2022

President Biden slams Griner’s 9-year prison sentence as “one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney.”
“It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately” pic.twitter.com/LkLnMQXor3
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) August 4, 2022

The full statement reads:

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“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates. My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”

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Brittney Griner was detained in February at an airport near Moscow after Russian officials discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil inside her luggage.

After suggesting a prisoner swap involving Griner, Whelan, and renowned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Biden and the rest of his administration will continue to advocate for Griner’s return to the United States.