US basketball big name Brittney Griner has appealed towards her nine-year jail sentence in Russia for drug ownership.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist used to be convicted in August after vape canisters containing hashish oil had been allegedly present in her baggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
A regional court docket in Moscow started listening to Griner’s attraction on Tuesday. The 32-year-old is showing by way of video name from a detention centre close to Moscow.
Her arrest in February got here amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, simply days earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine. The US has stated the case is politically motivated.
Griner has admitted that she had the canisters in her baggage however denied any legal intent and says she were prescribed hashish to regard ache.
The basketball big name’s attorneys have additionally argued that her nine-year jail sentence used to be over the top.
Before her conviction, the United States officers declared that Griner used to be “wrongfully detained”. Russia has denied the claims.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated on Monday that Washington had “active discussions” with Moscow to loose Griner and previous US Marine Paul Whelan, who’s serving 16 years in prison after being convicted of spying.
