Jailed WNBA Star Brittney Griner Reportedly “Stressed & Concerned” While Awaiting Appeal Hearing Filed Over A Month Ago

Brittney Griner

Jailed WNBA Star Brittney Griner Reportedly “Stressed & Concerned” While Awaiting Appeal Hearing Filed Over A Month Ago

Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is seemingly having a rough time in Russian prison.

According to reports, the 31-year-old WNBA star’s stress is mounting as she waits for results of her prison sentence appeal. As previously reported, Brittney Griner was detained by Russian officials just outside of Moscow back in March of this year for carrying a vape pen with a cannabis cartridge. The Phoenix Mercury player was subsequently charged with drug smuggling and sentenced to 9 years in jail.

Shortly after the August 4th sentencing, Griner’s lawyers wasted no time to appeal it. Official documents for a hearing were submitted on August 15th. Still, Griner has not received any word on if/when the hearing will take place. One of her lawyers, Maria Blagovolina, who called the lengthy sentence “absolutely ridiculous”, recently told reporters:

“Brittney is stressed and very much concerned with the future,”

Brittney Griner & Wife Cherelle Griner

Reports state that Blagovolina previously explained that Russian appeals are historically unsuccessful. However, she added that being even though being realistic, they had to try. She stated:

“We need to use every legal opportunity that we have, and appeal is one of these opportunities.”

The report also states that even once the process begins it will take several months for a decision to be returned. Another of Griner’s lawyers from the Moscow Legal Center reportedly stated:

“It’s not very fast.”

Even with the appeal looking relatively bleak, there is still a chance Griner could be released in a prison swap. As we reported previously, the Biden administration has stated publicly they were working on negotiations to have Griner and another US prisoner returned in exchange, allegedly, for a US imprisoned Russian arms dealer. However since releasing that information to the public back in July, there has been no further news on the exchange proceeding.

[VIA]

Do you think Brittney Griner’s appeal will be successful? Leave your thoughts in the comments.