Washington has mentioned Griner, who was sentenced to 9 years in jail for drug possession, has been wrongfully detained.
US basketball participant Brittney Griner’s authorized defence staff has appealed her conviction by a Russian court docket for narcotics possession and trafficking – for which she was sentenced to 9 years in jail.
Griner’s conviction and sentencing in early August have been condemned by Washington, with President Joe Biden calling it “unacceptable” and pledging to deliver Griner and Paul Whelan, who can also be imprisoned in Russia, house.
America has mentioned it can pursue a prisoner swap together with the athlete and Viktor Bout, a Russian imprisoned within the US who was as soon as a prolific arms vendor.
The attraction was first reported by Russian media. Griner’s lawyer confirmed to Reuters information company on Monday the attraction had been filed.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (WNBA) star, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 17 after authorities discovered cannabis-infused vape cartridges in her baggage.
She has mentioned bringing the cartridges into the nation, the place she performed for a Russian membership staff throughout the US off season, was an “sincere mistake”.
The arrest got here at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow, which escalated additional following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 5 days after the arrest.
Final month, the US State Division designated Griner as “wrongfully detained”. Moscow has denied the arrest was political.
Talking shortly earlier than the choose’s ruling, Griner mentioned: “I do know all people retains speaking about political pawn and politics, however I hope that's removed from this courtroom.”
US athletes, activists and legislators have rallied behind Griner, whereas heaping stress on the Biden administration to do extra to safe her freedom.
It has been 178 days since our pal, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia. It's time for her to come back house. @WhiteHouse@potus@vp , we're paying consideration and we're relying on you. #WeAreBG
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) August 14, 2022
“It has been 178 days since our pal, Brittney Griner, has been wrongfully detained in Russia,” wrote Seattle Storm energy ahead Breanna Stewart on Twitter on Sunday, tagging Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It's time for her to come back house.”
It's common for US skilled ladies’s basketball gamers, who're paid solely a fraction of male gamers’ salaries, to hitch profitable leagues overseas within the off season.
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