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Russian prosecutors have requested for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to be sentenced to 9.5 years in a penal colony, the state-run TASS information company reported from the courtroom Thursday because the high-profile trial nears its finish.
The 2-time Olympic champion was arrested on drug smuggling fees on Feb. 17 after officers discovered hashish vape cartridges in her baggage at a Moscow airport, placing her on the heart of the diplomatic fallout between Russia and america over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas Griner, 31, pleaded responsible to the costs final month in hopes of receiving a extra lenient sentence, the prosecution’s demand nears the utmost punishment of 10 years in jail.
The prosecutor has additionally requested for Griner to pay a high-quality of 1 million rubles ($16,590).
Griner’s attorneys maintained that the basketball star had been licensed to make use of marijuana for medical functions. Marijuana for each leisure and medicinal makes use of is unlawful in Russia.
She had been in Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg throughout the WNBA low season.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, which classifies Griner as “wrongfully detained,” has proposed a prisoner swap with Russia during which the basketball participant and imprisoned former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan could be launched.
A number of experiences have stated Washington supplied up infamous Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout to Moscow.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to just accept the proposal in a telephone dialog final week, although neither aspect reported any progress within the negotiations.
Lavrov known as for “quiet diplomacy with none doubtful media leaks” after the decision.
The ultimate verdict in Griner’s case is anticipated to be introduced on the courtroom within the city of Khimki outdoors Moscow in a while Thursday, in line with her lawyer cited by TASS.
