President Biden Calls For The Immediate Release Of Brittney Griner From Russian Prison 😱

President Biden Calls For The Immediate Release Of Brittney Griner From Russian Prison 😱

Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian prison after conviction on drug charges

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a politically charged trial that came amid soaring tensions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine and could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between the two world powers.

The 31-year-old Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and a eight-time all-star with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury listened with a blank expression as an interpreter translated the verdict by Judge Anna Sotnikova. The judge also fined 1 million rubles (about $16,000) fine.

"I never meant to hurt anybody to put in jeopardy the Russian population or violate any Russian laws. I made an honest mistake and I hope that your ruling, that it doesn't end my life here," Griner told the court earlier Thursday, apologizing to her family, her teammates, her fans, and the Russian people.

"I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom... I hope you take into account all the documents, all the character lists that everybody has sent in on my behalf... This is my second home, and all I wanted to do was just win championships and make them proud," she said.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the verdict and sentence as "unacceptable."

"I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," Biden said, adding that he would continue to work to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction.

As Brittney Griner was taken from the court after the verdict, she told reporters: "I love my family." Her lawyers said she was very upset, stressed, and could hardly talk.

#PresidentBiden calls for the immediate release of #BrittneyGriner following the announcement of her 9 year prison sentence.

#BrittneyGriner #ViktorBout #JoeBiden