Moscow (AP) — American basketball star Britney Griner Her team of attorneys said Wednesday that she was sent to a Russian penal colony to serve her drug possession sentence.
Russian court dismissed an appeal against her nine-year sentence last month. WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and her 8-time All-Star center with her two-time Olympic gold medalist Convicted on August 4 After police said they found an e-cigarette container containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.
Her arrest came a few days ago at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington Russia sent troops to Ukraineand politically prosecuted cases dangerous prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow.
Griner’s lawyers said she left the detention center on November 4 and headed for a penal colony. A common type of prison in Russia where detainees work for minimum wage. Her attorney said Wednesday that she did not know exactly where she was or where she ended up, but expected to be notified when she reached her final destination. The transfer may take several days.
The 32-year-old star, who was detained when he returned to play for the Russian team during the WNBA offseason, admitted he had a canister in his luggage. However, she inadvertently packed her luggage in haste, and she testified that she had no criminal intentions. Her legal team has filed a written statement that she was prescribed cannabis to treat her pain.
“The minute and second Britney Griner has to endure unjustly detained in Russia is too long,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Unacceptable and Unjust Detention of American Citizens”
The Associated Press and other news outlets reported that Washington offered to trade Griner for Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence for espionage in Russia. Victor BoutBout is a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the United States and once earned the nickname “The Merchant of Death.”
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