BREAKING - American basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years in prison and given a fine of 1 million rubles ($16,500 USD) by a Russian court after she was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling.
U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday 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.
"I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them," Griner said, her voice cracking."I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA, and my amazing spouse back at home."
Her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, argued that Griner used the cannabis only in Arizona, where medical marijuana is legal. Boykov added that even after her arrest, Griner won the sympathy of both her guards and prison inmates, who supported her by shouting,"Brittney, everything will be OK!" when she went on walks at the jail.
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