President Joe Biden speaks out after US WNBA star Brittney Griner was found guilty in a Russian court and sentenced to 9 years in a penal colony—just one year shy of the 10 years prosecutors requested—for cannabis possession.
President Biden called Griner’s sentence “unacceptable” and sent Russia a call to action to release her immediately.
“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: 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 shared in a statement. “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible,” CNN reports.
Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, were also shocked by the Russian court’s “unreasonable” verdict and plans to file an appeal.
Griner’s verdict and sentencing comes nearly six month after Russian customs found with .70s grams of cannabis oil in her luggage.
#DishFam…is her sentence appropriate? Share your thoughts below. #dishnation