Brittney Griner has shared her honest reaction to being jailed in Russia.
On Thursday, Griner was sentenced to 9 years in prison after she was caught with two vape pens filled with hashish oil at a Moscow airport earlier this year.
Via CNN
American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time Thursday in a case that has raised concerns she is being used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court delivered the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400. She said the court took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the deed, state of health and charitable activities. Prosecutors
After her sentencing was announced, Griner shared a message stating that she did not intend to break Russian laws and clearly made a mistake.
Brittney Griner was convicted on drug charges for smuggling cannabis oil into Russia pic.twitter.com/K1UndXFr9I
— Insider News (@InsiderNews) August 5, 2022
“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner said. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that, that is far from this courtroom.”I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime,”
Griner’s fellow athletes called for the Biden administration to help the WNBA star get freed from Russian prison.
What is truly happening with our Queen @brittneygriner @POTUS @VP ? Please give us an Update.
— A11Even (@KyrieIrving) August 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/Bam1of1/status/1555238788640608256
FREEBG
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 4, 2022
