Brittney Griner Sentenced to 9 Years in Russian Prison for Cannabis Possession

A Russian court sentenced American WNBA star Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison for allegedly possessing and smuggling cannabis.

Griner’s detainment by Russia is widely regarded as retaliation for U.S. sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Griner apologized to the court prior to the verdict, saying, “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn't end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that, that is far from this courtroom.” Griner was also fined 1 million rubles, or a little over $16,000; reported ruble-dollar conversions ranged from $16,300 to $16,700, likely due to the exchange rate’s volatility.

President Joe Biden denounced the sentence as “unacceptable,” saying, “My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.” The Biden administration is working on a prisoner swap deal to trade Griner and Whelan, another U.S. citizen detained in Russia, for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. 

Coverage was widespread and mostly balanced across the spectrum on Thursday. National Review (Right bias), The New York Times (Lean Left bias) and Vanity Fair (Lean Left bias) stood out by saying Griner had been sentenced to a “penal colony.”