via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
As per recent reports from ESPN, Russian prosecutors have requested a 9 1/2 year sentence for WNBA star Brittney Griner. The requests were made during the closing arguments in Griner’s trial. The two-time Olympic Gold medalist pleaded guilty. However, she maintained that she never meant to break any law. She has claimed that the vape cartridges with cannabis oil ended up in her luggage due to hasty packing.
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She has publically apologized to her family, wife, and the WNBA. Griner’s lawyers asked the court to free her, considering she has no criminal history. The report suggests that her lawyers also added that she had no criminal intent. Brittney Griner plays for the Russian team, Yekaterinburg, during the WNBA offseason. The lawyers submitted character witnesses from the team. And they also presented a written testimony from a doctor who said he prescribed cannabis oil for pain treatment.
Is the prisoner swap on the cards to bring Brittney Griner home?
Griner’s lawyers also mentioned her influence on Russian basketball. They reminded the court that her teammates and her fans love Griner. And that she helped her team win multiple championships during her time with them.
Russian prosecutors have asked a court outside Moscow to sentence Brittney Griner to 9½ years in prison on cannabis possession charges. https://t.co/Pl35QPYC9C
— ESPN (@espn) August 4, 2022
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On the other hand, the prosecutor argued that Griner packed the cannabis oil on purpose. He also asked the court to fine her along with the prison sentence. If Griner is not set free, then the other option to bring her back is by a prisoner swap.
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The prisoner swap has been a topic of discussion recently and some are against it. Recently, former President, Donald Trump revealed the prisoner swap isn’t a good idea because of the Russian prisoner in question, arms dealer, Viktor Bout. However, there are not many options to bring the WNBA star back home.
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Multiple celebrities have shown their support for Griner. Recently, NBA superstar LeBron James voiced his opinion about the country’s inability to bring her back quickly. However, he had to clarify that he wasn’t knocking the country after receiving a lot of backlash for his comments. Griner is one of the best players in the game. She has won multiple individual accolades over the course of her career so far.
