Russian Court Rejects Brittney Griner’s Appeal, She’ll Continue To Serve 9-Year Prison Sentence

Not surprisingly, Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence in Russia has been upheld. A judge working in the Moscow court heard arguments from the WNBA star’s lawyers, but ultimately decided to reject their appeal, most likely because they literally have no other choice. I’m sure they’re being ruled by someone else.

Griner did not appear in person for the ruling, but she was present from a video feed from inside a cell. She looked pretty terrible. Not gonna lie. I mean, I don’t think any of us would look our best while stuck inside a Russian prison.

Griner and her team of attorneys had hoped officials would overturn a previous ruling in the case, or at the very least, reduce the sentence. They argued the punishment did not fit the crime.

For those who don’t remember, the “crime” was bringing hashish oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport back in February.

Hash oil is a concentrated cannabis extract that can be smoked, vaped, eaten, or rubbed onto the skin.

This is why she’s serving NINE YEARS inside a Russian prison. Pretty crazy stuff. Many people believe Russia is using her as leverage in some sort of prisoner swap, but so far, they haven’t been impressed by the offers from the US.

Officials said the State Department offered to trade Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in the United States. Bout has been in U.S. custody since 2008. But officials have said Russia has not made a serious counteroffer and has requested the return of a man the United States doesn’t have in custody, Vadim Krasikov, who is currently in a German prison on a murder conviction.

Back in August, President Biden told reporters that he’s still working on Griner’s situation and will continue to work tirelessly to get her back home.

You have to imagine a swap will happen at some point. It’s hard to imagine her serving nine years out there, but crazier things have happened.

Right now, Griner is in a somewhat safe Moscow jail, but she could be transferred at any moment to “one of Russia’s notorious penal colonies.”

Geez. What a truly wild situation. Her life has changed forever over some damn oil in a piece of luggage. If she serves the full nine years, she won’t be back in the US until she’s 41-years-old.