Bad news for Brittney Griner.
A Russian court rejected Brittney Griner’s appeal of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession on Tuesday.
She had previously pled guilty to attempting to bring hashish oil onto a domestic flight back in February with her Russian Premiere League team. She was then found guilty and given a nine-year sentence against her, which she is to serve in a penal colony.
Griner called it “an honest mistake.”
One day in pre-trial detention will be counted as 1.5 days in prison, which means Griner will serve around eight years in prison unless the U.S. and Russia come to an agreement on a potential prisoner.
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National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan released a statement after the sentence was upheld.
“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately,” the statement read.
“In recent weeks, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to engage with Russia through every available channel and make every effort to bring home Brittney as well as to support and advocate for other Americans detained in Russia, including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan. The President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home, as his Administration has done successfully from countries around the world. The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.”
Since being locked up, she had to celebrate her 32nd birthday.
