WNBA Star Brittney Griner Is “Very Worried” She Won't Be Released, Lawyer Says
October 17, 2022Brittney Griner’s lawyers have opened up about the harsh conditions that the WNBA player is facing while in detainment, as Gay Times write.
Alongside playing in the US, Griner was an active player on the Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg. The Olympic gold medalist was arrested in Russia back in February on drug charges. She was accused of carrying hashish oil in her luggage.
After months of delays, the trial started on July 1. However during her second hearing, she pleaded guilty to the drug charges. “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law,” the Phoenix Mercury player told the court. “I’d like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare.”
A month later, Griner was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court. The court sentenced Griner to nine years in a penal colony and fined the star a million rubles – approximately $16,300.
According to reports, the queer athlete’s defense described the verdict as “absolutely unreasonable” and said they “will certainly file an appeal.”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Griner’s lawyer Alexandr D. Boykov shared an alarming update on the talented athlete and the harsh conditions she’s facing while in custody. “She has not been in as good condition as I could sometimes find her in."
She is only allowed outside once a day and is confined to walking in a small courtyard for an hour. The six-foot-nine player has been placed in a small cell with two other inmates as she awaits to be transferred to a Russian prison.
Antony Blinken, State Secretary, said that the White House had struck a deal with the Kremlin to secure her release. Days before Griner was sentenced, the Biden administration offered to exchange convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout as part of a deal to release Griner. However, the trade has reached a standstill.
Due to the uncertainty of the situation, Griner has become worried and skeptical about her release – significantly impacting on her mental health.
“She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home. She is very worried about what the price of that will be, and she is afraid that she will have to serve the whole sentence here in Russia,” Griner’s lawyer explained.
Cherelle Griner, Brittney's wife, said, “You could hear that [Brittney] was not OK. If you think about just a person suffering and when they have suffered to a max…. she was at the max that day.”
A hearing for Griner’s appeal is set to take place on October 25.
Read related myGwork articles here:
WNBA Star Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years For Drug-Smuggling
Biden Offers Russian Arms Dealer In Exchange For Detained WNBA Star Brittney Griner
WNBA Concerned Over Brittney Griner Situation
Russia Extends Detainment Of Out WNBA Star Brittney Griner
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