INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A Russian court on Thursday found U.S
basketball star Brittney Griner guilty of smuggling and storing drugs and sentenced her to nine years in prison.Griner will spend a "total
of nine years in a Russian penal colony," judge Anna Sotnikova told the court, adding that the 31-year-old athlete will also have to pay a
fine of 1 million rubles ($16,590).Griner's defense team said it will appeal the verdict."The court completely ignored all the evidence of
the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea," the defense team said in a statement."The verdict is absolutely unreasonable
We will certainly file an appeal."The two-time Olympic champion was arrested on drug smuggling charges on Feb
17 after officers found cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage at a Moscow airport, putting her at the center of the diplomatic fallout
between Russia and the United States over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.While Griner, 31, pleaded guilty to the charges last month in hopes
of receiving a more lenient sentence, the prosecution's demand nears the maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.Prosecutor Nikolay
Vlasenko said Griner "deliberately" proceeded through the green corridor at customs and stated she had nothing to declare "in order to
conceal" the substance.Griner walked into the courtroom in handcuffs, escorted by several law enforcement officers and a police dog.Standing
inside a cage for defendants before the start of the hearing, she held up a photo of herself with teammates from the Russian club she plays
for.Her lawyer Maria Blagovolina told the court Griner was "an icon for many people" and "was brave" to admit her guilt.She added that the
amount of substance brought in by the athlete was "just over" the allowed amount.Blagovolina asked the court to acquit Griner or consider a
Marijuana for both recreational and medicinal uses is illegal in Russia.In previous hearings, Griner said she was regularly tested by U.S.,
Russian and European leagues.The WNBA star said she had permission from a U.S
the basketball player and imprisoned former U.S
Marine Paul Whelan would be released
court's sentencing of Griner "unacceptable" and reiterated that he would "work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue" to repatriate
her and Whelan."Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney
It's unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates," Biden
said in a statement.AFP contributed reporting.
