Griner loses appeal, likely heading to Russian penal colony on minor possession charge October 26, 2022 By Griffin Coop Basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal of her nine-year prison sentence was denied yesterday by a Russian court, possibly ending the legal avenues for the player detained since February on a minor cannabis charge. Griner, whose wife Cherelle Griner is from Little Rock, was arrested in Russia in February for carrying hashish oil in a vape cartridge. Cherelle Griner met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office last month where Biden assured her he is working to win her wife’s release. In the aftermath of the ruling Tuesday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called Griner’s detention “a sham” and President Joe Biden said he has not gotten “much positive response” to a proposed prisoner swap to return Griner to the U.S. President Joe Biden said he has not received much positive response on the proposed swap, according to a report from Reuters. “We’re in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittany and others out. So far we’ve not been meeting with much positive response but we’re not stopping,” he said. ESPN reported yesterday that officials have said Russia will likely not engage seriously on the swap until after the American midterm elections on Nov. 8 to prevent President Biden from getting a political victory. The WNBA Players Association minced no words in its statement, calling Griner “a hostage.” “This appeal is further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained,” the WNBA Players Association said in a statement. “She is very clearly a hostage.” Griner is expected to be sent to a Russian penal colony, which include 16-hour work days, Russian propaganda, torture and beatings, according to reports. Earlier this month, Cherelle Griner told Gayle King of CBS News that she has only spoken to her wife by phone twice since she has been detained and the second phone call was “disturbing” and left her in tears for days, according to the Washington Post. Griner’s team issued two statements yesterday. The first statement from Griner’s legal team of Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov: What you think about the verdict? Is it what you expected? No, it is not what we expected. We are very disappointed. The verdict contains numerous defects and we hoped that the court of appeal would take them into consideration. We still think the punishment is excessive and contradicts to the existing court practice. Brittney’s biggest fear is that she is not exchanged and will have to serve the whole sentence in Russia. She had hopes for today as each month, each day away from her family and friends matters to her. Will you appeal further? We need to discuss this with our client. We generally think that we must use all the available legal tools especially given the harsh and unprecedented nature of her sentence. What will happen to BG next? Where and when she will be moved? The relevant decision is normally taken by FSIN based on numerous factors. This decision is not immediate and it usually takes up to few months for a convicted to be transferred to another location. Also, as BG is a foreigner, the case file should be translated into English. And it also will add up to that time. We will be following up on this and will keep you informed. The second statement from Griner’s agent Lindsay Colas: “Brittney Griner’s nine-plus year sentence is regarded as harsh and extreme by Russian legal standards. Today’s disappointing, yet unsurprising, appeal outcome further validates the fact that she is being held hostage and is being used as a political pawn. Brittney Griner is being held by Russia simply because she is an American. We call on all people, fellow Americans, along with the global sports community, to unite in their support for BG and President Biden’s efforts to do what is necessary to rescue her. We must support the use of all available tools to secure the safe return of BG and all Americans – with urgency. The fire at Evin prison in Iran last week that almost killed American prisoner Emad Shargi, and Matthew Heath’s attempt to take his life in June while held in Venezuela, prove that time is an illusion. We do not have time. At any moment something might happen, and we must remain focused and unified in our call to return BG to her family immediately. We are thankful to the Administration and to all efforts, including humanitarian, sports, faith-based, and other individuals who take the time to advocate for BG’s return. Each day matters, and we are thankful for every effort to ensure not one more day passes without her home.”
