Brittney Griner

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and smuggling and was sentenced to nine years behind bars in a ...

The game was to be preceded by a 42-second moment of silence -- 42 is Griner's number. Griner testified she was aware cannabis oil was outlawed in Russia and had not intended to break the law or "plan to smuggle anything into Russia." On July 27, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home Griner and Whelan in a sharp reversal of previous policy. Biden later called Cherelle Griner "to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible," the White House said July 6. She was the No. 1 pick by Phoenix in the 2013 draft. The U.S. State Department had earlier declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" -- a charge that Russia has sharply rejected. Her plight has been highlighted by supporters at home, including top athletes, especially after little news emerged about her initial weeks of detention in Russia, where she had limited access to U.S. diplomats. She also said she was not informed of her rights. Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn." Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers say they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said last month the "necessary judicial procedures" must be completed before other steps can be taken. Defence attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed.

An emotional Brittney Griner apologized for her actions as her drug possession trial drew to a close Thursday in Russia, and a prosecutor urged that the ...

Griner testified she was aware cannabis oil was outlawed in Russia and had not intended to break the law or "plan to smuggle anything into Russia." ... It is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States." The game was to be preceded by a 42-second moment of silence — 42 is Griner's number. Biden later called Cherelle Griner "to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible," the White House said July 6. She was the No. 1 pick by Phoenix in the 2013 draft. The U.S. State Department had earlier declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" — a charge that Russia has sharply rejected. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict." Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas tweeted that the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn." She also said she was not informed of her rights. Under Russian law, Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers say they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. But I had no intention of breaking any Russian law." Defence attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed.

Brittney Griner has been found guilty of drug possession and smuggling and was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison, an expected conclusion to her ...

He came home this April after the countries agreed to a prisoner swap that American officials sought when Reed was reported to be in poor health. Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas tweeted that the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn." I never meant to break any laws here," she said. "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," Biden said. "But I had no intent to break any Russian laws." "I never meant to hurt anybody. I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. Under Russian law, Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers said they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. But she and her supporters have also been aware that Russia was not going to move forward with a trade that could bring her home until her trial was completed. I understand everything that's being said against me, the charges that are against me, and that is why I pled guilty," Griner said, addressing the judge through an interpreter from her defendant's cage. Defense attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed. It's a difficult time for her."

La Russie a dit vendredi être «prête» à discuter d'un échange de prisonniers avec les États-Unis, au lendemain de la condamnation à neuf ans ...

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l’avoir apportée en Russie par inadvertance et l’utiliser légalement aux États-Unis comme anti-douleur. Washington a déclaré la semaine dernière avoir fait une offre «conséquente» et «sérieuse» pour obtenir le retour de Mme Griner et de Paul Whelan, un Américain qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison en Russie pour «espionnage». «Si les Américains décident encore de se lancer dans une diplomatie publique et de faire des déclarations retentissantes (...) c’est leur affaire, et même leur problème», a dit vendredi M. Lavrov, estimant que Washington «n’arrive pas» à travailler «calmement et de façon professionnelle» sur de nombreux sujets. Le chef de la diplomatie américaine Antony Blinken, qui avait déjà eu la semaine dernière des pourparlers avec M. Lavrov au sujet d’un échange, a indiqué vendredi que les États-Unis allaient «continuer» à en discuter avec la Russie. «Nous sommes prêts à discuter de ce sujet, mais seulement dans le cadre du canal (diplomatique) qui a été convenu par les présidents (Vladimir) Poutine et Biden», a dit vendredi le chef de la diplomatie russe Sergueï Lavrov, lors d’un déplacement au Cambodge. Le président américain Joe Biden a qualifié d’»inacceptable» la condamnation de la double championne olympique âgée de 31 ans, les États-Unis accusant Moscou d’instrumentaliser son cas pour arracher des concessions à Washington.

Brittney Griner, considérée comme l'une des meilleures joueuses de basket au monde, a été condamnée jeudi à neuf ans de prison pour trafic de drogue par un ...

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l’avoir apportée en Russie par inadvertance et l’utiliser légalement aux États-Unis comme antidouleur. Washington a déclaré la semaine dernière avoir fait une offre « conséquente » et « sérieuse » pour obtenir le retour de Mme Griner et de Paul Whelan, un Américain qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison en Russie pour « espionnage ». « Si les Américains décident encore de se lancer dans une diplomatie publique et de faire des déclarations retentissantes […] c’est leur affaire, et même leur problème », a dit vendredi M. Lavrov, estimant que Washington « n’arrive pas » à travailler « calmement et de façon professionnelle » sur de nombreux sujets. Le chef de la diplomatie américaine Antony Blinken, qui avait déjà eu la semaine dernière des pourparlers avec M. Lavrov au sujet d’un échange, a indiqué vendredi que les États-Unis allaient « continuer » à en discuter avec la Russie. (Moscou) La Russie a dit vendredi être « prête » à discuter d’un échange de prisonniers avec les États-Unis, au lendemain de la condamnation à neuf ans d’emprisonnement de la vedette américaine du basket féminin Brittney Griner. « Nous sommes prêts à discuter de ce sujet, mais seulement dans le cadre du canal [diplomatique] qui a été convenu par les présidents [Vladimir] Poutine et Biden », a dit vendredi le chef de la diplomatie russe Sergueï Lavrov, lors d’un déplacement au Cambodge.

The US and Russia have indicated they are ready to hold talks over a prisoner swap, a day after basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of drug ...

Earlier Friday, a US State Department official told reporters there had been no "serious response" from Russia on a proposed swap. Prior to the verdict on Thursday, Griner apologized to the court and asked for leniency in an emotional speech. And we'll be pursuing that," Blinken told reporters at a press briefing.

The White House has urged Russia to accept its offer of a deal for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

That means she truly is terrified that she may never see us again. You know, I share those same sentiments," Cherelle said. Blinken has said Washington put forward a "substantial proposal" for the exchange of Griner and Whelan. In a handwritten letter from Griner that was delivered to the White House last month, the WNBA player wrote how terrified she is that she may be imprisoned in Russia "forever." The White House has urged Russia to accept its offer of a deal for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. Russia said Friday it was "ready to discuss" a prisoner swap with Washington at the presidential level, a day after the drug conviction of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner.

The U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was found guilty of deliberately bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia despite them being illegal.

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bag,” said Griner, the first pick overall in the 2013 WNBA draft. “I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russians laws,” Griner told the court. Griner appeared at the hearing in a grey T-shirt and round-rimmed glasses. “If I had to guess on how they ended up in my bags, I was in a rush packing.” In her testimony last week, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs. Griner earlier pleaded with a Russian judge not to “end her life” with a harsh prison sentence for bringing in vape cartridges containing hashish oil, before breaking down in tears in court.

Brittney Griner, who was in Russia to play for a local team during the WNBA off-season, was detained over vape carriages containing cannabis oil in her ...

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Russia has used an array of weapons against Ukraine, some of which have drawn the attention and concern of analysts. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine.

Justin Bieber a proposé son aide après la condamnation de la star américaine du basketball Brittney Griner à neuf ans de détention.

L'avocat de Brittney Griner a déclaré qu'il ferait appel de la sentence, insistant sur le fait que le tribunal a ignoré ses preuves ainsi que la «reconnaissance de culpabilité» de Brittney Griner lors de son procès en juillet. Le président américain, Joe Biden, a déclaré dans un communiqué que la Russie détenait «à tort» la star du basketball et a ajouté: «C'est inacceptable, et j'appelle la Russie à la libérer immédiatement pour qu'elle puisse retrouver sa femme, ses proches, ses amis et ses coéquipiers.» Justin Bieber a proposé son aide après la condamnation de la star américaine du basketball Brittney Griner à neuf ans de détention dans une colonie pénitentiaire en Russie, jeudi.

The Russian foreign minister said President Putin and U.S. President Biden had previously agreed on a diplomatic channel that should be used to discuss ...

Russia and the United States staged a prisoner swap in April, trading former Marine Trevor Reed for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence in the United States. The United States has already made what Blinken called a “substantial offer” to secure the release of Americans detained in Russia, including Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan. Griner’s sentence – which Biden called “unacceptable” – could pave the way for a prisoner swap that would include the 31-year-old athlete and a prolific Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison term in the United States. Russia said on Friday it was ready to discuss a prisoner swap with the United States in private, a day after a Russian court jailed U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner for nine years for a drugs offense. Peskov declined to comment on the court’s ruling on Griner. When asked if she could be pardoned, he said that the clemency procedure was coded in Russian laws. “We are ready to discuss this topic, but within the framework of the channel that was agreed upon by presidents Putin and Biden,” Lavrov said during a visit to Cambodia.

Justin Bieber a proposé son aide après la condamnation de la vedette américaine du basket-ball Brittney Griner à neuf ans de détention.

L'avocat de Brittney Griner a déclaré qu'il ferait appel de la sentence, insistant sur le fait que le tribunal a ignoré ses preuves ainsi que le « plaider coupable » de Brittney Griner lors de son procès en juillet. • À lire aussi: La basketteuse américaine Griner condamnée à 9 ans de prison en Russie Justin Bieber a proposé son aide après la condamnation de la vedette américaine du basket-ball Brittney Griner à neuf ans de détention en colonie pénitentiaire en Russie, jeudi.

The detained WNBA star Brittney Griner apologized and asked for leniency in an emotional speech to a Russian courtroom in her drug-smuggling trial Thursday ...

Blagovolina also told CNN her team's experts identified "a few defects" in the machines used to measure the substance. Those rights would include access to an attorney once she was detained and the right to know what she was suspected of. "To hear her words and her apologies. Boykov also argued Griner had no opportunity to properly examine the court documents. All this confirms the complete absence of intent in her actions, Blagovolina argued. "What Vladimir Putin is trying to do is basically drive up the bargaining price of Ms. Griner." Near the end of the tribute, spectators started chanting, "Bring her home! We are BG," the statement reads. He said the US is working to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American citizen who has been held by Russia for alleged espionage since 2018. The defense team is hopeful that Griner will be able to talk to her family next week. Blagovolina added that Griner will return to the detention center where she is being held. Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court delivered the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400.

American basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of drug possession and smuggling in Russian court on ...

Griner testified she was aware cannabis oil was outlawed in Russia and had not intended to break the law or "plan to smuggle anything into Russia." ... It is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States." The game was to be preceded by a 42-second moment of silence — 42 is Griner's number. Biden later called Cherelle Griner "to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible," the White House said July 6. She was the No. 1 pick by Phoenix in the 2013 draft. The U.S. State Department had earlier declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" — a charge that Russia has sharply rejected. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict." Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas tweeted that the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn." She also said she was not informed of her rights. Under Russian law, Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers say they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. But I had no intention of breaking any Russian law." Defence attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed.

Russian officials have said a deal has not been reached with the United States, which has been trying to negotiate a prisoner exchange.

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bag,” said Griner, the first pick overall in the 2013 WNBA draft. Griner appeared at the hearing in a grey T-shirt and round-rimmed glasses. In her testimony last week, Griner expressed puzzlement as to how the vape cartridges ended up in her luggage as she was flying back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg for the playoffs. “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 read. Before taking a seat in the defendant’s cage, she held up a team picture of UMMC Ekaterinburg, the team she played for in Russia during the WNBA offseason. In a teary statement before the verdict, Griner implored the judge to recognize her actions as a mistake.

A judge in Russia has convicted and sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” Griner said, her voice cracking. Lawyers for the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist have sought to bolster Griner’s contention that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage by mistake. They remained poker-faced, urging Washington to discuss the issue through “quiet diplomacy without releases of speculative information.” Another defense attorney, Alexander Boykov, emphasized Griner’s role in taking her Yekaterinburg team to win multiple championships, noting that she was loved and admired by her teammates. Earlier in the session, with a conviction all but certain, an emotional Griner made a final appeal to the court for leniency. “I remember vividly coming out of the gym and all the little girls that were in the stands there waiting on me, and that’s what kept making me come back here.” She declined to elaborate. The Lavrov-Blinken call marked the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia sent troops into Ukraine more than five months ago. Blagovolina asked the court to acquit Griner, noting that she had no past criminal record and hailing her role in “the development of Russian basketball.” She said she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil when she flew to Moscow in February to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg. Prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko insisted that Griner packed the cannabis oil deliberately, and he asked the court to hand Briner a fine of 1 million rubles (about $16,700) in addition to the prison sentence. Before the unusually quick verdict was announced, Griner made a final appeal to the court . She said she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil into the country when she flew to Moscow in February to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg.

Un tribunal russe a condamné jeudi la vedette américaine du basket féminin Brittney Griner à neuf ans de prison pour trafic de drogue, une lourde peine ...

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l’avoir apportée en Russie par erreur. Nous exhortons la Russie à accepter cette proposition », a déclaré la porte-parole Karine Jean-Pierre. M. Blinken a indiqué avoir pressé son homologue d’accepter l’« offre conséquente » de Washington à Moscou pour obtenir la libération de Griner et d’un autre Américain détenu en Russie, Paul Whelan, qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison pour espionnage. « Je n’ai jamais voulu faire de mal à qui que soit, je n’ai jamais eu l’intention de mettre la population russe en danger, ni de violer la loi ici », a déclaré Griner jeudi. « Le tribunal a reconnu la prévenue coupable » de possession illégale et de trafic de drogue, a déclaré la juge Anna Sotnikova, selon une journaliste de l’AFP présente au tribunal de Khimki, près de Moscou. La Maison-Blanche a « exhorté » jeudi la Russie à accepter son « offre sérieuse » d’échanges. « Nous avons fait une offre conséquente pour la ramener […] à la maison.

Un tribunal russe a condamné jeudi la vedette américaine du basket féminin Brittney Griner à neuf ans de prison pour trafic de drogue, une lourde peine qualifiée d'»inacceptable» par Joe Biden, qui ouvre la voie à un possible échange de prisonniers entre ...

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l’avoir apportée en Russie par erreur. Nous exhortons la Russie à accepter cette proposition», a déclaré la porte-parole Karine Jean-Pierre. «Je n’ai jamais voulu faire de mal à qui que soit, je n’ai jamais eu l’intention de mettre la population russe en danger, ni de violer la loi ici», a déclaré Griner jeudi. En conséquence, la basketteuse a été condamnée à «neuf ans de prison dans une colonie pénitentiaire» et un million de roubles d’amende, a-t-elle ajouté. «Le tribunal a reconnu la prévenue coupable» de possession illégale et de trafic de drogue, a déclaré la juge Anna Sotnikova, selon une journaliste de l’AFP présente au tribunal de Khimki, près de Moscou. La Maison-Blanche a «exhorté» jeudi la Russie à accepter son «offre sérieuse» d’échanges. «Nous avons fait une offre conséquente pour la ramener (...) à la maison.

Experts see Brittney Griner's detention as a hostage crisis amid U.S.-Russian tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I also hope that by going public about their efforts, that Griner’s community trusts that the administration is on the case—and will therefore support more negotiations to continue behind the scenes. In particular, I was encouraged to see the administration announce new policies to prevent and combat hostage-taking and wrongful detention through travel warnings and sanctions. The onus is on the targets, unfortunately, to make those costs more real. According to the 1979 International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages, a hostage-taking comprises an ongoing intention “in order to compel a third party . . . to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the hostage.” It’s not just the trumped-up charges against Griner or the unjustified delays in her trial, but crucially, the fact that the Russians are holding her for leverage. I hope that these negotiations are successful, though there’s likely to be more twists and turns ahead. Dr. Gilbert: An individual hostage crisis ends when the victim is released and can return home. Dr. Danielle Gilbert: Yes, it appears that Russia imposed trumped-up charges against Brittney Griner. According to the Russian prosecution, Griner was carrying 0.7 g of hash oil in her luggage, a personal use amount that would hardly constitute a misdemeanor in the United States. Even in Russia, possessing that amount of cannabis would only invoke a fine or short jail time. There are more than 60 known Americans currently held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad in countries all over the world, and the U.S. government faces similar pressures to make concessions to bring each of these Americans home from countries including Iran, China, and Venezuela. Moreover, the publicity in Griner’s case is likely to inspire copycat cases; our adversaries all over the world are learning how effective hostage-taking can be. Speculation in the media, including on Russian state broadcasts, is the U.S. and Russian governments are negotiating Griner’s fate as part of a Russian effort to gain the release of arms dealer Viktor Bout, an arms dealer serving time in a U.S. prison. The U.S. government considers Griner “ wrongfully detained.” WNBA stars, including Griner, have played basketball in Russia for years without similar incidents. In an emotional statement, Griner pleaded for leniency and said she had no intent to break Russian law. During Griner’s August 4, 2022, court appearance, prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 9.5 years.

La star américaine du basket féminin, détenue en Russie depuis février, a été reconnue coupable de trafic de drogue.

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l'avoir apportée en Russie par erreur. M. Blinken a indiqué avoir pressé son homologue d'accepter l'"offre conséquente" de Washington à Moscou pour obtenir la libération de Griner et d'un autre Américain détenu en Russie, Paul Whelan, qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison pour espionnage. Une condamnation de la joueuse ouvre légalement la voie à un possible échange de prisonniers. «Je n'ai jamais voulu faire de mal à qui que soit, je n'ai jamais eu l'intention de mettre la population russe en danger, ni de violer la loi ici», a déclaré Griner jeudi. «Le tribunal a reconnu la prévenue coupable» de possession illégale et de trafic de drogue, a déclaré la juge Anna Sotnikova, selon une journaliste de l'AFP présente au tribunal de Khimki, près de Moscou. «J'ai commis une erreur de bonne foi et j'espère que le jugement ne mettra pas fin à ma vie ici», avait plaidé Griner lors de sa dernière prise de parole avant l'énoncé de la décision de la cour.

La vedette américaine du basket féminin Brittney Griner, détenue en Russie depuis février, a été reconnue coupable jeudi de trafic de drogue.

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l'avoir apportée en Russie par erreur. M. Blinken a indiqué avoir pressé son homologue d'accepter l'«offre conséquente» de Washington à Moscou pour obtenir la libération de Griner et d'un autre Américain détenu en Russie, Paul Whelan, qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison pour espionnage. Une condamnation de la joueuse ouvre légalement la voie à un possible échange de prisonniers. «Je n'ai jamais voulu faire de mal à qui que soit, je n'ai jamais eu l'intention de mettre la population russe en danger, ni de violer la loi ici», a déclaré Griner jeudi. «J'ai commis une erreur de bonne foi et j'espère que le jugement ne mettra pas fin à ma vie ici», avait plaidé Griner lors de sa dernière prise de parole avant l'énoncé de la décision de la cour. «Le tribunal a reconnu la prévenue coupable» de possession illégale et de trafic de drogue, a déclaré la juge Anna Sotnikova, selon une journaliste de l'AFP présente au tribunal de Khimki, près de Moscou.

Le président des États-Unis Joe Biden a vivement dénoncé jeudi la condamnation de la basketteuse américaine Brittney Griner à 9 ans de prison par un tribunal russe pour trafic de drogue. « C'est inacceptable et je demande à la Russie de la libérer ...

« Le verdict (...) était prévisible, et Brittney reste détenue à tort. La condamnation de Brittney Griner en Russie est « inacceptable », dénonce BidenBasketball jeudi, 4 août 2022. 12:00 jeudi, 4 août 2022.

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a politically ...

The game was to be preceded by a 42-second moment of silence -- 42 is Griner's number. Griner testified she was aware cannabis oil was outlawed in Russia and had not intended to break the law or "plan to smuggle anything into Russia." On July 27, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home Griner and Whelan in a sharp reversal of previous policy. Biden later called Cherelle Griner "to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible," the White House said July 6. She was the No. 1 pick by Phoenix in the 2013 draft. The U.S. State Department had earlier declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" -- a charge that Russia has sharply rejected. Her plight has been highlighted by supporters at home, including top athletes, especially after little news emerged about her initial weeks of detention in Russia, where she had limited access to U.S. diplomats. She also said she was not informed of her rights. Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn." Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers say they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said last month the "necessary judicial procedures" must be completed before other steps can be taken. Defence attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed.

Un tribunal russe a condamné jeudi la vedette américaine du basket féminin Brittney Griner à neuf ans de prison pour trafic de drogue, une lourde peine ...

Elle a reconnu avoir été en possession de cette substance, affirmant toutefois l’avoir apportée en Russie par erreur. Nous exhortons la Russie à accepter cette proposition», a déclaré la porte-parole Karine Jean-Pierre. «Je n’ai jamais voulu faire de mal à qui que soit, je n’ai jamais eu l’intention de mettre la population russe en danger, ni de violer la loi ici», a déclaré Griner jeudi. En conséquence, la basketteuse a été condamnée à «neuf ans de prison dans une colonie pénitentiaire» et un million de roubles d’amende, a-t-elle ajouté. «Le tribunal a reconnu la prévenue coupable» de possession illégale et de trafic de drogue, a déclaré la juge Anna Sotnikova, selon une journaliste de l’AFP présente au tribunal de Khimki, près de Moscou. La Maison-Blanche a «exhorté» jeudi la Russie à accepter son «offre sérieuse» d’échanges. «Nous avons fait une offre conséquente pour la ramener (...) à la maison.

Une juge russe a déclaré que l'étoile américaine de basketball féminin Brittney Griner a transporté illégalement de la drogue en Russie et l'a condamnée à ...

Pour leur part, les dirigeants russes se sont moqués de l'implication américaine dans le dossier, affirmant que cela démontrait un manque de respect envers la loi russe. Les avocats de la joueuse du Mercury de Phoenix et double médaillée d'or olympique avaient choisi comme approche de présenter l'argument selon lequel Griner n'avait pas d'intention criminelle et que les cartouches se sont retrouvées dans ses valises parce qu'elle était pressée au moment de les remplir. Le procureur Nikolai Vlasenko avait rétorqué que Griner avait amené délibérément avec elle l'huile de cannabis. Je veux aussi m'excuser auprès de mes parents, mes soeurs et mon frère, l'organisation du Mercury de Phoenix, les femmes incroyables de la WNBA et ma conjointe. Selon la loi russe, Griner faisait face jusqu'à 10 ans de prison. « Je veux m'excuser auprès de mes coéquipières, mon équipe, mes partisans, la ville de (Iekaterinbourg) pour l'erreur que j'ai commise et l'embarras dans lequel je les ai placés, avait dit Griner, la voix tremblotante.

WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling Thursday.

“Thinking of BG and how much light she relentlessly brought to everyone around her. ___ “Today’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongly detained. ___ My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible." ___

MOSCOW — A Russian court has found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. The widely expected verdict comes after a monthlong ...

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A judge in Russia has convicted and sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” Griner said, her voice cracking. Lawyers for the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time Olympic gold medalist have sought to bolster Griner’s contention that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage by mistake. They remained poker-faced, urging Washington to discuss the issue through “quiet diplomacy without releases of speculative information.” Another defense attorney, Alexander Boykov, emphasized Griner’s role in taking her Yekaterinburg team to win multiple championships, noting that she was loved and admired by her teammates. Earlier in the session, with a conviction all but certain, an emotional Griner made a final appeal to the court for leniency. “I remember vividly coming out of the gym and all the little girls that were in the stands there waiting on me, and that’s what kept making me come back here.” She declined to elaborate. The Lavrov-Blinken call marked the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia sent troops into Ukraine more than five months ago. Blagovolina asked the court to acquit Griner, noting that she had no past criminal record and hailing her role in “the development of Russian basketball.” She said she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil when she flew to Moscow in February to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg. Prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko insisted that Griner packed the cannabis oil deliberately, and he asked the court to hand Briner a fine of 1 million rubles (about $16,700) in addition to the prison sentence. Before the unusually quick verdict was announced, Griner made a final appeal to the court . She said she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil into the country when she flew to Moscow in February to play basketball in the city of Yekaterinburg.

Les joueuses de Phoenix, l'équipe de Brittney Griner, et de Connecticut ont observé jeudi 42 secondes de silence avant leur match de championnat WNBA pour ...

Les émotions se sont intensifiées au cours de la journée. Nous allons jouer, mais comment pouvons-nous nous concentrer sur ce match ? C’est un jour tellement émouvant pour nous. « Nous continuons à soutenir BG de toutes les manières possibles et restons engagés avec le département d’État américain qui œuvre pour la ramener à la maison. « Les joueuses la regardaient. God put a hedge of protection around her mind and spirit… Les émotions se sont intensifiées au cours de la journée. Nous allons jouer, mais comment pouvons-nous nous concentrer sur ce match ? C’est un jour tellement émouvant pour nous. Ç’a été difficile d’apprendre la nouvelle », a-t-elle poursuivi.

WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling Thursday. Here are some reactions.

“Thinking of BG and how much light she relentlessly brought to everyone around her. ___ “Today’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongly detained. ___ “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. ___