After spending more than six months in jail for having less than one gram of cannabis oil in her luggage at a Russian airport, eight-time WNBA All-StarBrittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday. It was expected that the final decision on her case would be harsh.
The diplomatic relationship between the US and Russia will determine how long Griner will stay in Russia. A conviction is usually a precondition to arranging a prisoner exchange and also allows the star to apply for a presidential pardon. In exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, the countries freed a former US Marine and a man who had been accused of espionage. Russian officials are trying to get two Russians in any trade with the US, according to a report.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that the world already knew that the Russian government was wrong to detain the American. I call on Russia to let her go so she can be with her family. My administration will do everything in its power to bring the two missing people home safely.
The United States and Russia have been talking about a swap of prisoners. The work of the Federal government is mostly confidential and her day-to-day status won't change until a deal is reached. Russia is fighting a war against Ukraine. The State Department considers any Russian legal action against the two men to be irrelevant.
She may be a hostage in response to American sanctions against Russia because she is seen as a powerful asset to Putin. She flew to Moscow to join her Euro League team when she was arrested. Since joining the international team in Russia, she has earned over $1 million per season, more than quadrupling her yearly salary.
The only way to free the Phoenix Mercury star is through foreign negotiations, even though a Russian judge said his time in prison would count towards a 9-year sentence.
The focal point of the All-Star game last month was the fact that she had been imprisoned. Every player had her name and number on the back of their jerseys as they warmed up for the second half.
I think my Deadspin colleague CarronPhillips agrees with me that black people have it hard. Black women don't have it easy. Black gay women are the most difficult to get along with. Being a triple minority in America is difficult.
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