Russia has rejected an enchantment by the US basketball star Brittney Griner towards her nine-year jail sentence for drug possession.
The 2-time Olympic gold medalist was convicted in August after vape canisters containing hashish oil have been allegedly present in her baggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
She requested a regional court docket in Moscow to cut back her “traumatic” sentence, however judges determined to go away the decision unchanged.
The 32-year-old appeared in court docket on Tuesday through video name from a detention centre close to Moscow. She has been imprisoned since March.
Her arrest in February got here amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, simply days earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine. The US has mentioned the case is politically motivated.
Griner has admitted that she had the canisters in her baggage however denied any prison intent and says she had been prescribed hashish to deal with ache.
The basketball star’s legal professionals have additionally argued that her nine-year jail sentence was extreme.
Earlier than her conviction, the US officers declared that Griner was “wrongfully detained”. Russia has denied the claims.
US State Division spokesperson Ned Worth mentioned on Monday that Washington had “lively discussions” with Moscow to free Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who’s serving 16 years in jail after being convicted of spying.
