American women’s basketball star Brittney Griner, detained in Russia since February, was sentenced on Thursday to 9 years in prison by a Russian court for drug trafficking, after her arrest with a vape containing cannabis liquid.
US President Joe Biden strongly denounced the sentencing. “This is unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so that she can be reunited with her wife, relatives and teammates,” he urged in a statement moments after the verdict was announced.
The court in Khimki, near Moscow, found the player guilty of drug possession and trafficking and sentenced her “to nine years in a penal colony”, judge Anna Sotnikova said, according to a correspondent of the AFP.
Brittney Griner will appeal this “senseless” conviction, according to her lawyer.
Griner has been detained in Russia since her arrest in February with a vape containing cannabis-infused liquid.
Further details will follow.
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