U.S. Basketball Star Brittney Griner Prison Sentence Upheld By Russian Court; Biden Official Decries “Sham Judicial Proceeding” – Update
deadline.comUPDATE: A Russian court has upheld the nine-year prison sentence of American basketball star Brittney Griner, drawing a rebuke from President Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who called for Griner’s immediate release and decried the “sham judicial proceeding.”Today’s ruling upholds the nine-year sentence in a penal colony.
Griner, a WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medallist, was arrested at a Moscow airport last February with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.In a statement, Griner’s lawyers said, “We are very disappointed.
The verdict contains numerous defects, and we hoped that the court of appeal would take them into consideration.” Said Sullivan, “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.” PREVIOUS, Aug. 4: Brittney Griner, the two-time U.S.
Read more on deadline.com
