Brittney Griner appeals conviction amid talks of prisoner swap

Cami Mondeaux

August 15, 07:46 AM August 15, 08:21 AM

Lawyers for Brittney Griner filed an appeal for the WNBA star’s nine-yr conviction virtually two weeks just after she was located responsible of smuggling medication into Russia.

Griner, 31, was found guilty on Aug. 4 on drug-smuggling fees and was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony coupled with a $16,300 good. However, the U.S. State Division has maintained Griner was wrongfully detained, accusing the Kremlin of keeping her prisoner as a political pawn amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

PUTIN Needs TO BE Immediately Involved WITH BIDEN ON GRINER PRISONER SWAP

The basketball star’s enchantment, documented by Russian retailers on Monday, will come amid talks of a prisoner swap immediately after Russia indicated before this month it would be open up to a personal discussion concerning President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The basketball star was in the beginning detained in February, but Russian officials mentioned the legal struggle has to be concluded right before discussing a prisoner trade. The swap could consist of talks to totally free Paul Whelan, a former Maritime who has been held in Russian detention considering that 2018 and was convicted in 2020 on espionage costs, and a Russian arms seller, in accordance to studies.

Griner had pleaded guilty to the charges, hoping her statements of regret would sway the decide to give her a a lot more lenient sentence. She testified she utilizes hashish oil in the U.S. for serious pain but understood that carrying hashish to Russia was illegal.