Russian Court Rejects WNBA Star Brittney Griner’s Appeal Against Nine-Year Sentence

Tuesday, a Russian court rejected Brittney Griner‘s appeal of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

The judge ruled to uphold the US basketball star’s conviction. However, her sentence will be reduced only slightly to count the time she spent in pre-trial detention, with each day in pre-trial custody after her Feb. 17 arrest counting as 1.5 days toward her prison sentence.

This decision came after a Tuesday hearing where Griner spoke and apologized again while she and her lawyers requested leniency.

“I’ve been here almost eight months, and people with more severe crimes have been given less than what I was given,” Griner said Tuesday via video.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan released a statement after Griner’s sentence was upheld.

“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately,” the statement read.

“In recent weeks, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to engage with Russia through every available channel and make every effort to bring home Brittney as well as to support and advocate for other Americans detained in Russia, including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan. The President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home, as his Administration has done successfully from countries around the world. The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances.”