Lee Heidhues 8.4.2022
Disgusting is the fact that many of American basketball star Brittney Griner’s fellow citizens, egged on by American fascist Donald Trump, are proclaiming on social media she deserves her nine year Russian prison punishment. For what? Carrying a negligible amount of marijuana oil. I read it on Social Media and I am ashamed to call myself an American.
The American basketball star, 31, detained in Moscow since two days before Vladimir Putin’s criminal invasion of The Ukraine has become a cynical pawn in international politics.
After a sham Russian court sentenced Ms. Griner, she is looking at 9 years hard time In a Russian Gulag.
Unless America and Russia, can cut a deal to secure her release.
Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 8.4.2022
A Russian court sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug charges on Thursday.
Judge Anna Sotnikova found that Griner had committed the crime “deliberately,” and the sentence is close to the 10-year maximum penalty.
The 31-year-old athlete was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil into the country.
Griner pleaded guilty in July to carrying the cartridges but said she had no intention of breaking the law.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” the three-time WNBA league champion and seven-time All-Star said before sentencing on Thursday.
“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,” she added, her voice cracking.
Griner was also fined 1 million rubles ($16,000, €15,650).
Lee's Perspective 