WNBA star Brittney Griner’s legal team appeals against her drug sentence

The legal team for the Phoenix Mercury star, Brittney Griner has filed an appeal against her nine-year Russian prison sentence for the possession of drugs.

Brittney Griner’s legal team has filed for an appeal against her nine-year-long sentence for drug possession. As of Monday, 15th August, there have been talks between the U.S and Russia about an exchange of a high-profile prisoner for her release. 

Brittney Griner was convicted on 4th August after she was discovered to be in the possession of vape canisters that contained cannabis oil. It was found in her luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. She insisted that while she did have the vapes with her, she had just packed them in a hurry. She said that she did not have any criminal intent. Her defense team provided written statements that she had received a cannabis prescription for pain relief. The US President, Joe Biden, said that her arrest was “unacceptable”.

There have been “talks” between the countries for a swap between Griner and Viktor Bout

Griner was “wrongfully detained”, and Washington has offered to swap her for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer now serving a 25-year sentence in the US. However, Russia has denied that she was unfairly detained. 

“This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and U.S citizens is being discussed through channels defined by our presidents. These individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The details should be left to professionals,” said Alexander Darchiev, who is the head of the Foreign Ministry’s North America department.

In February, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, there were rising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Griner, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, was at the time traveling back to Russia, where she plays while the American League is not in session.

Griner had until Monday to contest the verdict. Partner at Rybalkin Gortsunyan Dyakin and Partners, Maria Blagovolina, said that the appeal had been filed. She said that the grounds for it were not clear immediately. 

Her punishment is excessive, says her legal team

Following the conviction, Blagovolina and co-counsel Alexander Boykov argued that the nine-year sentence, which was almost as long as the maximum 10-year penalty, was excessive. According to them, in cases identical to this, defendants were given sentences that averaged around five years. A third of these are eligible for parole.

“We demand to overturn the verdict passed by the Khimki court and impose a new sentence,” said Alexander Boykov. He stated that the key basis for the appeal will be alleged violations made throughout the course of the investigation. In court, Griner’s defense team said that some of her case files had not been translated into English for her use.