Brittney Griner

This step puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia's legal system and the Russian government's use of wrongful detentions to advance its own ...

The United States opposes this practice everywhere. This is an absolute priority of mine and the Department’s. This step puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.

After a Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for a drug smuggling conviction on Thursday, the player's supporters, ...

During the trial, the lawyers argued that Griner's detention was handled improperly. The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained. In addition to her nine-year sentence, Griner must pay a fine of 1 million rubles, which is roughly $16,400. "I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom." Her lawyers had hoped that Griner's guilty plea and statements of remorse would result in a more lenient sentence. of cannabis oil in her luggage as she traveled through a Moscow airport on February 17.

WASHINGTON, United States, Aug 4 - Brittney Griner -- a world basketball great, Olympic legend and LGBT trailblazer -- now faces losing the greatest years ...

“Hopefully I’m able to stay here and play here in the league at home, where there’s my family, my friends. BG is just playing at a different level.” The eight-time WNBA All-Star center won scoring titles in 2017 and 2019, led the league in blocked shots in eight of her nine campaigns and was twice named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Hopefully we’re able to be paid what we deserve. She was the first overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury and helped the team win the 2014 WNBA crown. She helped drive the US women’s national team to Olympic gold in 2016 at Rio and last year in Tokyo, giving the Americans seven consecutive Olympic crowns — matching the US men’s team from 1936-1968 for the longest title run of any team in any Olympic sport.

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.

A Russian court found Brittney Griner guilty on drug smuggling and possession charges. She was sentenced to more than nine years in prison.

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.

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.

After Griner received nine-year prison sentence on drug charges, Sergei Lavrov warns Russia won't tolerate 'megaphone diplomacy'

“These swaps will never happen if we start discussing any nuances of the exchange in the press,” he told reporters on Friday. “I know everybody keeps talking about ‘political pawn’ and ‘politics’, but I hope that is far from this courtroom,” Griner said in a closing statement on Thursday. But Lavrov also warned that Russia would not respond to “megaphone diplomacy”, demanding that any negotiations be carried out discreetly.

The Kremlin said Friday that it's open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner but strongly warned ...

He said: "If we discuss any nuances related to the issue of exchange via media, no exchange will ever take place." Griner was arrested as she was returning to play for a team in Russia, where she has competed since 2014. "The Americans often have trouble observing agreements on calm and professional work." "We were separated by just one person at the discussion table, but I didn't feel his desire to catch me. The politically charged case comes amid high tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia's military action in Ukraine. "If the Americans again try to engage in public diplomacy and make loud statements about their intention to take certain steps, it's their business, I would even say their problem," Lavrov said.

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.

Griner sentenced and fined 1m roubles in politically charged verdict that could lead to prisoner swap with the US.

“I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. “I never meant to hurt anybody,” Griner said in her closing statement. He claimed that the US said Russia offered a trade for Bout in 2020 shortly after Whelan’s conviction on spying charges. US officials say Russia wants to swap Griner and Paul Whelan, a former US marine arrested on spying charges in 2020, for the convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. The exchange at an airfield in Turkey recalled a cold war thriller, as the two men walked past each other to board planes back to their respective countries. Griner’s defence team said they were “disappointed” by the verdict and would appeal.

Griner had told the court she had no intention to break the law by bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil when she flew to Moscow in February.

Russian media have speculated repeatedly that Griner could be swapped for Bout, nicknamed “the Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. … It is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.” 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. She was the No. 1 pick by Phoenix in the 2013 draft. 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.” 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.” She also said she was not informed of her rights. When she took the stand July 7, Griner said: “I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me. She led the league in scoring twice. Under Russian law, Griner has 10 days to appeal, and her lawyers say they expect a hearing in Moscow regional court next week. Most Russians possessing small quantities of drugs get at most five years in prison, lawyers said.

Griner, 31, admitted possessing cannabis oil but told the court she made an "honest mistake". But the court convicted her of smuggling and possessing narcotics, ...

"It's a serious proposal. When we saw Brittney on Tuesday, we told her, 'See you on Thursday'. She said, 'See you on doomsday'. So it looks like she was right." We urge them to accept it. Griner also said she had received neither an explanation of her rights nor access to a lawyer in the initial hours of her detention, and that she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate. "She can hardly talk. She had come to Russia to play club basketball during the US off-season.

Griner's defense attorney called for her to be acquitted, or for the court to show leniency in any punishment she's given, as the month-long trial in Russia ...

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The judge showed little leniency in sentencing the WNBA star, who was arrested at the Moscow airport in February.

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. In past years, the United States has resisted Russian pressures to exchange Bout given the seriousness of his offenses. 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. Klyushin claimed the case against him was “politically motivated” because of his ties to the Russian government. “And we urge the Russians to take that offer because it was done with sincerity, and we know we can back it up.” But the Kremlin has told Washington to refrain from “megaphone diplomacy,” with Russian Foreign Ministry officials repeatedly warning that public calls will not help her cause. This step puts a spotlight on our significant concerns with Russia’s legal system and the Russian government’s use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda, using individuals as political pawns.” The Phoenix Mercury star testified that she uses cannabis oil in the United States for treatment of chronic pain from injuries but knew that carrying cannabis into Russia was illegal. My mom stayed at home to take care of me and my sister, and my father went to work and provided for our family,” she told the judge. “It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.” Griner did not speak to journalists after the hearing ended but said “I love my family” as she was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs. She said she was aware of people talking about her as “a political pawn” but distanced herself from such language and said she hoped it would play no role in the court’s decision.

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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Joe Biden calls the sentence against the WNBA star, who was arrested at a Moscow airport in February, 'unacceptable'.

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bag,” she told the court on July 27. She apologised to her family, teammates, and her spouse. Blinken said on Thursday the sentence against Griner “further compounds the injustice of her wrongful detention”, promising to continue to push to bring her “home”. “Taking into account the amount of the substance – not to mention the defects of the expertise – and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable,” her defence team said in a statement. “I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never intended to break Russian law,” Griner said through a translator while standing in the metal cage reserved for defendants in Russian courtrooms. Sotnikova had said on Thursday that Griner committed the crime “deliberately”. But Griner had testified during the trial it was a mistake.

Sentare yo mu Burusiya yaciriye urubanza umukinyi rurangiranwa wa Basketball wo muri Amerika Brittney Griner gupfungwa imyaka umunani yagirizwa ...

Sentare yo mu Burusiya yaciriye urubanza umukinyi rurangiranwa wa Basketball wo muri Amerika Brittney Griner gupfungwa imyaka umunani yagirizwa ibiyayuramutwe. Cannabis ntirekuwe mu Burusiya. Umugwi w'ababuranira Griner wavuze ko bashobora kwunguruza kuri ico cemezo cafashwe kuri uyu wa kane na sentare ya Khimiki iri irunde ya Moscou. Brittney Griner: Rurangiranwa muri Basketball yaciriwe gupfungwa imyaka 9 azira gufatanwa ibiyayuramutwe

Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully.