A Russian courtroom on Thursday sentenced US basketball star Brittney Griner to 9 years in jail over drug smuggling as US President Joe Biden known as the ruling "unacceptable".
The courtroom "discovered the defendant responsible" of smuggling and possessing "a major quantity of narcotics", decide Anna Sotnikova informed a courtroom within the city of Khimki simply exterior Moscow.
Sotnikova sentenced Griner, 31, to 9 years in jail and stated she would additionally should pay a fantastic of 1 million rubles ($16,590).
US President Joe Biden instantly launched a press release, calling the Russian courtroom's sentencing of Griner "unacceptable."
"Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It is unacceptable and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she could be along with her spouse, family members, pals and teammates," Biden stated within the assertion.
The US president reiterated that he would "work tirelessly and pursue each potential avenue" to repatriate Griner.
Griner's trial accelerated in latest days as america and Russia talk about a possible prisoner swap that would contain the basketball star.
The six-foot-nine (2.06 metres) star was detained at a Moscow airport in February after she was discovered carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil in her baggage. The arrest got here simply days earlier than Moscow launched its army intervention in Ukraine.
Prosecutors had earlier requested the two-time Olympic basketball gold medallist and Ladies's NBA champion be sentenced to 9 and a half years in jail on drug smuggling fees.
Griner's trial got here with tensions hovering between Moscow and Washington over Russia's army intervention in Ukraine that has sparked worldwide condemnation and a litany of Western sanctions.
"I made an sincere mistake and I hope that your ruling does not finish my life right here," Griner stated earlier Thursday.
"I need the courtroom to grasp it was an sincere mistake that I made whereas speeding, below stress, making an attempt to get better from post-Covid and simply making an attempt to get again to my staff."
Griner pleaded responsible to the fees, however stated she didn't intend to interrupt the legislation or use the banned substance in Russia.
Her defence staff stated they have been "very upset" by the decision and would enchantment.
"The courtroom fully ignored all of the proof of the defence, and most significantly, the responsible plea," legal professionals Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov stated in a press release.
"The decision is totally unreasonable. We will definitely file an enchantment."
Prosecutor Nikolay Vlasenko had requested a jail sentence of 9 years and 6 months for Griner, requesting a time period simply wanting the utmost punishment of 10 years.
Vlasenko stated Griner "intentionally" proceeded by way of the inexperienced hall at customs and acknowledged she had nothing to declare "as a way to conceal" the substance.
Earlier within the day Griner walked into the courtroom in handcuffs, escorted by a number of legislation enforcement officers and a police canine.
Standing inside a cage for defendants earlier than the beginning of the listening to, she held up a photograph of herself with teammates from the Russian membership she performs for.
- 'Proposal' for prisoner swap -
Griner was detained when she got here to Russia to play membership basketball with UMMC Ekaterinburg through the US low season -- a typical path for American stars looking for extra earnings.
In earlier hearings, Griner stated she was commonly examined by US, Russian and European leagues.
The WNBA star stated she had permission from a US physician to make use of medicinal hashish to alleviate ache from her many accidents -- "from backbone to cartilages".
Her case has raised hypothesis a few potential prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated final week that Washington had made a "substantial proposal" to Moscow to free Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was imprisoned on espionage fees.
A prisoner swap was additionally mentioned throughout a name between Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday.
The best-profile Russian prisoner in america is Victor Bout, a 55-year-old arms trafficker, dubbed the "Service provider of Demise", who's serving 25 years in jail.
There is no such thing as a official affirmation that Washington has provided to trade him.
Russia and america have already carried out one prisoner swap because the begin of Moscow's Ukraine offensive.
In April, Washington exchanged former US Marine Trevor Reed for convicted drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko.
