A judge in Russia has convicted American basketball player Brittney Griner of drug smuggling, and sentenced her to nine years in prison for drug possession and smuggling on Thursday.
Griner begged a judge to issue a lenient sentence that would not “end my life” in Russia.
Griner was first detained in February when Moscow airport officials found vapes with cannabis in her luggage.
As her trial concluded in Russia, Brittney Griner begged for a sentence that “doesn’t end my life” in Russia in her closing arguments.
Despite repeated appeals for leniency, the WNBA superstar and two-time Olympic gold medalist was found guilty with criminal intent and sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, UMMC, the fans, and the city of Ekaterinburg for the mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought to them,” Griner said in her closing statements. “I want to also apologize to my parents and my siblings, my Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA, and my amazing spouse back at home.”
“I never meant to hurt anybody,” she continued. “I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. I never meant to break any laws here. I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here.”
Griner added that she has heard talk about being a political pawn and hopes that politics are “far from this courtroom.”