US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Just horrible news out of Russia this afternoon. Britney Griner, the basketball player who was in Russia to play FOR Russia has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Britney was on her way out of Russia when they confiscated a vape pen with cannabis in it from her luggage. For that she’ll lose a decade of her life?
US National Security Council Director for Strategic Communications John Kirby echoed President Joe Biden’s comments Thursday, calling for Brittney Griner’s immediate release.
“This sentence, this trial just reaffirms what we have been saying all along: Brittney has been wrongfully detained and she needs to be immediately released by Russian authorities so she can be home with her wife, her teammates, and her friends and family and the President is going to stay 100% committed to achieving that outcome,” Kirby said during an appearance on MSNBC.
He pointed to the United States’ “serious proposal” for a prisoner swap with the Russians.
#FreeBrittneyGriner we will not stop advocating for you release. Hold on to God unchanging hand. We love you, BG! ??????
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 4, 2022
#FreeBrittneyGriner we will not stop advocating for you release. Hold on to God unchanging hand. We love you, BG! ??????
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 4, 2022