US basketball star Griner’s defense team appeals against Russian drugs conviction
The defense team of Brittney Griner, the US basketball star jailed for nine years in Russia on drugs charges, has appealed against her conviction for narcotics possession and trafficking, Griner's lawyer Maria Blagovolina told Reuters on Monday.
Griner, who had played for a Russian club, was arrested at a Moscow airport on February 17 after cannabis-infused vape cartridges were found in her luggage.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
She pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had made an “honest mistake” by entering Russia with cannabis oil, which is illegal in the country. She was convicted on August 4.
The US government says Griner was wrongfully detained. It has offered to exchange her for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.
Read more:
US to ‘pursue’ Russia’s offer to discuss Griner prisoner exchange: Blinken
Also Read
-
Russian court hands Brittney Griner 9-year prison sentence in drugs trial
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced US basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison after finding her guilty of deliberately bringing ... World News -
US to ‘pursue’ Russia’s offer to discuss Griner prisoner exchange: Blinken
The United States will “pursue” Russia’s latest offer to discuss at the presidential level a prisoner swap involving detained basketball star Brittney ... World News -
Russia ready to discuss prisoner swap with US: Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow is ready to discuss prisoner exchanges with Washington through an existing ... World News
