On August 4, 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden Up to date a proper assertion regarding the sentencing of U.S. basketball participant Brittney Griner. Griner was simply sentenced to 9 years in a Russian penal colony and fined a million rubles. We’ve written about Griner’s case earlier than (right here and right here), however to summarize, she may very well be spending the subsequent decade locked up in Russia for unintentionally bringing hashish vapes into the nation. President Biden’s statement is brief, so I’ll copy the total textual content beneath:
At this time, American citizen Brittney Griner obtained a jail sentence that’s yet one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she might be together with her spouse, family members, pals, and teammates. My administration will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each doable avenue to carry Brittney and Paul Whelan dwelling safely as quickly as doable.
Everyone knows that Griner’s harsh therapy has lots to do with the US’ help of Ukraine in its invasion by Russia. It appears unlikely that she would have obtained such a harsh sentence had this occurred a 12 months in the past. However the truth stays that it’s nonetheless doable in Russia (and many of the world) to face a decade in jail for one thing anybody in most U.S. states can legally carry.
President Biden’s administration is working to dealer a prisoner swap for Griner, so she might not serve her total sentence in Russia. That’s certainly not assured, and Russia might get again a convicted arms seller because of this.
We hope that President Biden can take what he’s realized in Griner’s case – that it’s flawed to detain somebody for hashish possession – and focus extra vitality on making legalization occur right here. As we have now identified for years, he has not been notably keen on hashish and never a lot has modified federally since he took workplace, regardless of all the guarantees.
Most of all, we hope that Griner will probably be rapidly launched and get to come back dwelling to the US. What a travesty.