Brittney Griner ‘Not Expecting Any Miracles’ At Appeal Hearing
Tomorrow (Oct. 25) is Brittney Griner’s appeal hearing and the WNBA star is reportedly not expecting any miracles.
On Aug. 4, Griner was convicted and sentenced to 9 years for drug smuggling. In a joint statement today (Oct. 24), Griner’s attorneys Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in a joint statement, “We see her often. Brittney is very mentally strong and has a champion’s character. However, she of course has her highs and lows as she is under an increasing amount of stress and has been separated from her loved ones for over eight months.”
The statement continued: “She is prepared for the appeal and is very nervous. Brittney does not expect any miracles to happen, but hopes that the appeal court will hear the arguments of the defense and reduce the number of years.”
In February, Griner, who had been playing for UMMC Yekaterinburg in Russia, was arrested by the Russian Federal Customs Service at Sheremetyevo Airport near Moscow. Agents said they found hashish oil vape cartridges in her luggage. According to The Washington Post, she was charged with transporting a “significant amount,” or 0.702 grams, of cannabis oil. Griner’s arrest came amid tension escalating over Russia invading Ukraine.
Griner pleaded guilty but argued in court that she did not intentionally put the cartridges in her luggage and packed them in haste. In a written statement, her defense presented evidence that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.
During an Oct. 6 interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, said she fears Brittney could be moved to a labor camp if she is not released before the appeal hearing. Russian labor camps have been described as “notoriously harsh.” However, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who runs The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which negotiates prisoner and hostage releases, told CNN he felt "cautiously optimistic" that Griner could be released before the end of this year.
