Russia Sentences Out Lesbian US Basketball Star Brittney Griner To Nine Years In Prison
starobserver.com.auOut lesbian US basketball player Brittney Griner was convicted by a Russian court on charges of drug possession and smuggling and sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday.
US President Joe Biden denounced the verdict and sentence as “unacceptable” and called on Russia to release the athlete immediately so that she could be with her “her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates”.
President Biden added that he would work to bring both Griner and Paul Whelan, another American imprisoned in Russia under an espionage charge, home.
Brittney Griner with wife Cherelle. Image: InstagramBrittney’s wife Cherelle hasn’t issued a statement yet. Last month, she had posted a message after receiving a call from President Biden and Vice President Harris.“I am grateful to the both of them for the time they spent with me and for the commitment they expressed to getting BG home,” Cherelle posted on Instagram.Griner is one of 11 players to have won an Olympic gold medal, WNBA title, Women’s Basketball World Cup crown and US college championship.
