Brittney Griner was sentenced Thursday to nine years imprisonment in a Russian penal colony “smuggling”U.S. politicians, journalists, and sportsmen are enraged by the idea of cannabis oil being stored and transported. “unacceptable”The punishment imposed by the foreign court.
“Anyone who can look at Brittney on the screen and not see the humanity and severity of this situation is sick,” Bleacher Report host Arielle Chambers TweetAdd that “Brittney Griner should be on US soil. BRING HER TF HOME.”
The Phoenix Mercury player has been in Russian custody since February, when she was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport with vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil, which is banned in the country. The WNBA champion pleaded guilty on drug charges in July, but maintains she did not intend to break the law.
The decision was referred to by President Joe Biden “unacceptable”A statement ObtainedABC News: Russia is being called out by ABC News “release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”
Biden has been in contact with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, after the WNBA star wrote the president a handwritten letter asking him to not “forget about [her] and the other American detainees.”News outletsSpeculatedthat Griner could be exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Negotiations for such a swap could not begin in earnest, however, until Griner’s sentence was finalized. Even if this outcome was to occur, many believe that a grave injustice is already done.
Taylor Rooks, sports journalist, shared her disappointment at this decision. Tweeting “It’s day 168. even one more day there is too much.”
Read additional reaction’s to Griner’s sentencing below: