Washington: US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia for drug possession, has been sentenced to nine years in prison. 31-year-old Britney, who is described as the best female basketball player in the world, was arrested at the Moscow airport with drugs in February. In addition to the prison sentence, the court also imposed a fine of 1 million Russian rubles ($16,7000). The court issued its verdict on Thursday after the trial was over. Greiner is a two-time Olympic medalist.
Brittney Greiner had come to the club basketball match in Russia. Greiner was carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil on his trip to Russia. Greiner pleaded with the court to commute the sentence, saying he had no intention of violating Russian law. US President Joe Biden said that the jailing of the basketball star is unjustifiable and that they should be released as soon as possible.
White House security spokesman John Kirby also said that the US made a big offer to Russia to release the basketball star. But Kirby declined to explain what the deal was. International media reported that the US plans to release Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen jailed for Russian arms smuggling, in exchange for the release of the basketball star.
Known as the merchant of death, Victor has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by the US. The plan is to extradite Victor to the US if Russia releases Britney and US sailor Paul Whelan. Whelan, who holds US, British, Canadian and Irish passports, was sentenced to 16 years in prison by Russia on espionage charges. Whelan has been in a Russian prison since 2020.