Russia sentenced American basketball player to nine years in prison; Biden rejected the verdict
Moscow: Russia has sentenced an American basketball player to nine years in prison. Britney Greiner, 31, was sentenced by Russia.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison and fined one million Russian rubles ($16,7000) for drug possession. The court verdict was issued on Thursday after the trial was over.
The case was that Brittney Greiner, who boarded a flight to Moscow to play a basketball match in Yekaterinburg, Russia, was in possession of drugs this past February.
Greiner carried vape cartridges with cannabis oil on his trip to Russia.
But an emotional Griner pleaded with the court that she had no intention of violating Russian law and that her sentence be commuted.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, the club, the fans and the city of Yekaterinburg for the mistake I made and the shame it caused them. “I want to apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization in the U.S. and my spouse,” Greiner said after hearing the verdict.
Two-time Olympic champion Brittney Greiner is one of America’s top athletes.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden dismissed the Russian court’s ruling against the US star. Biden’s response was that the verdict was not acceptable.
“I ask Russia to release them immediately. May they have the opportunity to be with their spouses, loved ones, friends and teammates,” Biden responded.
The US President added that the necessary steps will be taken to bring Brittney Greiner and American citizen Paul Whelan, who is being held in Russia on charges of espionage, back to the US.
It is estimated that Brittney Griner’s conviction will have a further negative impact on Russia-US relations, which have been strained by the Ukraine issue.
Content Highlight: Russian court sentences US basketball player Brittney Griner to nine years in jail, Joe Biden denounced the verdict and sentence