He was later sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed the swap in a press release to agencies that Griner was swapped for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout. In April, Russia agreed to release former U.S. Marine Trevor Reedin a prisoner exchange with the United States. Sept. 16: Biden met with Cherelle Griner, as well as with Griner's agent, Lindsay Colas. Aug. 4: Griner is sentenced to nine years in prison and fined 1,000,000 Russian rubles -- just over $16,000. had support from two character witnesses. She was serving a prison sentence for drug charges in Russia. PHOENIX - WNBA star Brittney Griner's 10-month imprisonment in Russia on drug charges came to an end on Thursday, spreading relief and joy across sports world and beyond. There are some deep, dark holes in Russia where the government puts people and simply forgets about them. The hip-hop community is shocked after learning that WNBA player Brittney Griner has been sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug possession charges. Griner's lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in an email that they were "very disappointed" with the decision because they still believe "the punishment is excessive and contradicts to the existing court practice. At the time he was arrested, Whelan was visiting Russia to attend a wedding, according to his brother, David Whelan. Griner tried to appeal her more than nine-year prison sentence, but the Russian court rejected her attempt to get out from under the sentence. Griner was first detained on February 17. The 31-year-old Griner, who plays professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was arrested in February at a Russian airport on accusations she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil. One of them is Alexander Vinnik, who was accused of laundering billions of dollars through an illicit cryptocurrency exchange. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called the court's ruling "unfortunate" but "not unexpected. He was freed in a prisoner exchange in which Biden commuted the sentence of Konstantin Yaroshenko, a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving time in Connecticut, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2010. A Moscow court sentenced WNBA player Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison on drug charges, raising the stakes in deadlocked talks between Russia and the US o. AboutPressCopyrightContact. According to TASS, Griner said in court she understood the charges but declined to immediately comment on them. June 2: A report revealedGriner received hundreds of emails and letters from players around the WNBA. As tensions between the U.S. and Russia continue to rise amid the latter's invasion of Ukraine, an American WNBA star has been detained in Russia for months.Brittney Griner, the two-time Olympic gold-medalist who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg during the off-season, was arrested on drug charges in February after customs found vape cartridges in . Updated on: October 25, 2022 / 7:08 PM U.S. women's basketball star Brittney Griner now faces 9 years in a Russian prison. A Russian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession, a step that could move her closer to a possible high-stakes prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. "I never meant to hurt anybody," Griner said following closing arguments, according to NBC News. They said they had to discuss with Griner what legal steps they should take next. As the Administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the President has directed the Administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony, the White House statement added. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. WASHINGTON WNBA star Brittney Griner is free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer. WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner swap Thursday. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been taken to penal colony IK-2 in the Russian region of Mordovia, her lawyers said in a statement Thursday.. Griner is nearing her ninth month in detention after . Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the U.S. "put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago" for Griner and Whelan's release. Joe Bidens White House has been entirely powerless to do anything about Griners situation, despite the constant pressure from the sports world to do something to get the basketball player released. Dec. 8: Griner was released in exchange for Bout. In September, Biden met with Cherelle Griner, the player's wife, Cherelle Griner, as well as her agent, Lindsay Colas. "The details of it, I think are best left between us and our Russian counterparts," Kirby said. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: wnba | pageType: stories | Transcript. Russian authorities said she had vape cartridges with cannabis oil inside her luggage. Embed. By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the, sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges, met with U.S. officials for the first time, made a brief Russian courtroom appearance, decal featuring her initials and No. 42 jersey number, he and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert are working "side-by-side" in securing Griner's release, Griner received hundreds of emails and letters from players around the WNBA. For Reed's release, Biden agreed to free Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States. Griners return will cap a monthslong saga that began in February, when she was detained at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul Whelan, a U.S. corporate security executive who remains jailed in Russia. Biden said that he was "glad to be able to say Brittney is in good spirits.". All Rights Reserved. Griner pleaded guilty at her trial in July but said she had no criminal intent. KHIMKI, Russia (AP) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and smuggling and was sentenced to nine years behind bars in a politically charged. He was traded in 1962 for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in an exchange on a fog-shrouded bridge between West Berlin and East Germany. "My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible," the president added. After a 10-month detainment in Russia and getting sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges, eight-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was allowed to return to the United States. But more especially, Griner presented Russia with a high-profile political victory against the United States and her conviction was a welcome jab at the U.S. as far as Putins government is concerned. April 27: U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed is released from Russian custody in a prisoner exchange, which is seen as a positive sign for Griner's potential release. Analysts say that the basketball player will face harsh conditions and her family in the U.S. may not even be allowed to know exactly where she is, according to the New York Post. June 14: Griner's pre-trial detention gets extended for a third time. In a written statement Thursday night, the Griner family thanked Biden, his administration and others for their work. The British government blamed Moscow for the poisoning. She shared the cell with two other English-speaking inmates, and both reportedly had no prior convictions and were being held for "drug-related articles," per NBC. I never meant to break any laws here.". (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who . US' Women's National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and . She was convicted Thursday in a Russian court on drug charges for having cannabis oil in her luggage last. Cherelle said the two had not verbally communicated in over 100 days, as her wife's phone was taken away shortly after she entered police custody. "Well keep negotiating for Pauls relief. The Biden administration has offered to. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said publicly the U.S. government had put a "substantial proposal on the table" but did not confirm the reports regarding Bout. Earlier this month, Cherelle Griner told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King that she was terrified of the WNBA star's fate. ", "I'm proud that today we have made one more family whole," Biden said, adding that he will continue to work to free Whelan. Brittney Griner is back in the United States safe and . The American basketball player . 2022 CNBC LLC. WASHINGTON DC: Brittney Griner is back home after spending nine months in prison and was released on Thursday, December 8, in a prisoner exchange with Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the decision "another failure of justice, compounding the injustice of her detention," adding that "securing her release is our priority.". The Biden administration has faced tremendous pressure to help bring home Griner, whose teammates, family and friends, as well as a number of U.S. celebrities, lobbied for her return. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul . Griner was released from a Russian penal colony on Thursday after nearly 10-months in custody. The Kremlin has demanded his release over the past decade, saying he was unfairly targeted. 42 jersey numberon every court around the league. First published on October 25, 2022 / 5:49 AM. By JIM HEINTZ August 15, 2022 MOSCOW (AP) Lawyers for American basketball star Brittney Griner have filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession, Russian news agencies reported Monday, amid talks between the U.S. and Russia that could lead to a high-profile prisoner swap. May 13: Griner made a brief Russian courtroom appearanceand learned her pretrial detention was extended until June 18. "We've made a proposal, and we urge the Russians to move positively on that proposal so we can get these two individuals home.". Alexander Zemlianichenko | AFP | Getty Images, Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home, in a prisoner exchange with the United States. WNBA player Brittney Griner has now been moved to a Russian forced labor camp to complete her 9-1/2-year prison sentence after being convicted on drug charges in Moscow. Like many WNBA players, Griner plays in Russia during the league's offseason. The newspaper speculated that another possible candidate was Roman Seleznev, the son of a Russian lawmaker. Griner asked the court for leniency earlier Thursday. A Russian court on Tuesday dismissed WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against a nine-year sentence for possessing and smuggling vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, paving the way . Bout was sentenced to 25 years in federal prisonin 2012 after he was convicted of selling arms to Colombian rebels, which prosecutors said were intended to kill Americans. They slammed the White House for not securing the release of Whelan and for letting Bout go free, arguing it will give incentives to bad actors like Russia and North Korea to arrest more Americans to be used as bargaining chips. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Griner said the canisters, which she had been prescribed to treat chronic pain, were packed inadvertently as she hurriedly prepared for her flight. The start of her criminal trial was set for July 1 and she was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of the trial. Griners wife, Cherelle Griner, was in the Oval Office with Biden, and the two were able to speak with her by phone, a senior administration official said. "This has been very traumatic experience, waiting for this day, waiting for the first court, and getting nine years for a crime that I was barely over the significant amount," Griner told the Moscow hearing on Tuesday. May 2: The WNBA announces it will honor Griner by installing adecal featuring her initials and No. In a statement Thursday, President Joe Biden called the prison sentence "unacceptable" and called for Griner's immediate release. According to CNN, the Biden administration "repeatedly made offers to get Whelan as part of this deal - even after Russia made clear only Griner was acceptable." Aug. 2: Griner's lawyers argued the state-appointed forensic expert who examined the cartridges found in her luggage made some technical and procedural errors. While vaping cartridges such as the ones in her luggage would be ignored by many western countries, Russia still has strict laws against marijuana in any form. US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner stands inside a defendants' cage before a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 26, 2022. Russian diplomats have refused to comment on the U.S. proposal and urged Washington to discuss the matter in confidential talks, avoiding public statements. Many of the WNBA's brightest stars, who typically play in Russia . "This executive order reflects the administration's commitment not just to the issues generally but to the families in particular, and it has been informed by the government's regular engagements with them," said a senior Biden administration official last month, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to share details about the new executive order. recognized as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, was returning to Russia . Griner is expected to undergo a medical evaluation, which is standard procedure for freed U.S. prisoners. Reflecting growing pressure on the Biden administration to do more to bring Griner home, Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that Washington had made a "substantial proposal" to get Griner home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. at People familiar with the negotiations for his release say the Russians refused to free him without getting a Russian spy in return. The Joe Biden administration negotiated a one-for-one prisoner swap involving convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. At the time, Griner was returning to play for a Russian team during the WNBA's offseason. 1 day ago. July 27: During the first day Griner testified at her trial, sherecounted the day of her arrest and said the interpreter did not provide a full translation, explaining she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate with a customs officer. The WNBA and NBA, as well as politicians and athletes across the country, reacted Thursday to the news that Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has been sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison . The court also fined Griner 1 million rubles ($16,301). American basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony by a Moscow court Thursday after she was convicted of drug smuggling, concluding a multi-month trial that. AILSA CHANG, HOST: Nine months ago, basketball . The process led Silver to communicate with "every level" of government. Griner, an eight-time all-star . The 31-year-old Griner, who plays professional basketball in. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian prison, Biden on Brittney Griner, commitment to Paul Whelans release, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, Brittney Griner's wife overwhelmed with emotions after release. Yuliya Talmazan is a London-based journalist. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Some on the right attacked Griner as being less deserving of release than Whelan, because she once protested during the playing of the national anthem at WNBA games to raise awareness of racial justice issues. Since Thursday the prisoner swap had reportedly been negotiated. WNBA star Brittney Griner filed an appeal of her nine-year Russian prison sentence for drug possession. Cherelle Griner told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. Oct. 25: Griner's appeal of her prison sentence is rejected. Feb. 17: Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow when the Russian Federal Customs Service discovered vape cartridges containing marijuana concentrate hashish oil in her luggage. Griner brought vape cartridges with her containing cannabis oil, a prohibited substance in Russia. The detainment of Griner occurred during a time of high tension, making negotiations more difficult. US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner sits inside a defendants' cage before a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on July 27, 2022. A Russian court on Monday set Oct. 25 as the date for American basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston, or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston, London / EuropePoliticsSportsBrittney GrinerRussiaUkraine warWNBA. After she was found guilty, she was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison with no hopes of . I guarantee it.". WNBA player Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia in February for bringing cannabis oil into the country while traveling for a basketball game. Her defense team presented written statements saying she had been prescribed cannabis to treat chronic pain. Griner, 32, of the Phoenix Mercury, was the subject of prolonged and often public negotiations after a trial that underscored frayed relations amid Russias war in Ukraine. Griner, who is 6-foot-9, had complained about the jail cell's beds being too small for her, per the TASS report. Biden's administration had sought the release of both Griner and Whelan. ", Aug. 15:Griner's defense team filed an appeal. June 26: Griner attends a preliminary hearing and her detention is extended six months, her fourth extension. Griner at one point held up a photo of fellow WNBA players wearing her name . WNBA star Brittney Griner has pled guilty to drug charges in a Russian court and now faces a prison sentence of 10 years. "This is delicate work," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters during a White House press briefing. / CBS/AP. both of whom were serving out sentences in prisons in the United States and Russia respectively," the foreign ministry said in a statement. July 14: Griner was expected to testify on the third day of her trial, but she didn't. The lawyer added Griner did not have "any complaints about the detention conditions," but it was unclear whether the bed-size situation had been resolved. The WNBA star and her lawyers had tried. U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during a court hearing to consider an appeal against her sentence, at the Moscow regional court on October 25, 2022. Paul Whelan, a former Marine who was arrested on allegations of spying in 2018, at a hearing in Moscow on Aug. 23, 2019. . Before her conviction, the U.S. State Department declared Griner to be "wrongfully detained" - a charge that Russia has sharply rejected. Alexander Datchiev, head of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Russia prefers "silent diplomacy. The deal was reached about a week ago, an official said, after the Biden administration floated a number of proposals to secure the release of both Griner and Whalen all of which Russia rejected. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Please do all you can to bring us home," Griner wrote. - Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and . The WNBA said on Thursday it was working with the U.S. government to get All-Star Brittney Griner freed from a Russian prison after the TASS news agency said her detention for possession of vape . I really hope that the court will adjust this sentence, because it's been very, very stressful and very traumatic to my mental and psyche, being away from my family and not being able to communicate.". The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years that Griner had faced under the charges. In order to obtain Griner's release, President Joe Biden authorized Bout to be released from prison and returned him to Russia. Brittney Griner, the American WNBA player who was tried in Russian court for drug smuggling after bringing cannabis oil into the country, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday . She was. Griner was detained in February at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. The swap marks the most prominent diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the U.S. and its allies firmly backed Kyiv and condemned the Kremlin for launching the war against Ukraine in February. March 5: The State Department urged American citizens to immediately leave Russia to avoid the "potential for harassment" in anupdated advisory. The move is one of the highest-profile prisoner swaps between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, with the Kremlin recovering Viktor Bout, whom Russian President Vladimir Putin has been wanting to get back and who had served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the U.S. He also said on the call that he is working to release Whelan, who is serving a 16-yearsentence in Russia. ", "Britthey's biggest fear is that she is not exchanged and will have to serve the whole sentence in Russia," they said. Days before she pleaded guilty last month, Griner penned a letter to Biden asking for his direct help with her case. A WNBA spokeswoman told the New York Times that all WNBA players besides Brittney had left Russia and Ukraine. Brittney Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was found guilty of drug charges in Russia and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in August . Trevor Reed, a former Marine, was released in April after having spent nearly three years in a Russian jail. They argued her punishment was "excessive.". Alexander Boykov, Griner's lawyer, told the AP that the extension's relatively brief length means his client will soon get a trial. ", The family asked for privacy "as we embark on this road to healing.". Russia says it's ready to discuss a prisoner swap for Brittney Griner, Brittney Griner convicted in Russian court, sentenced to nine years in prison. "She is safe, she is on a plane, she is on her way home," Biden said Thursday morning at the White House. "It is time to bring this case to an end and bring BG home.". The American WNBA player Brittney Griner has been released from the Russian prison she has been held in since February after the Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap. In February, she was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow after arriving from New York.. According to CBS News, the United States and Russia had agreed to the swap on Dec. 1. 12:45 pm ET, I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. May 3: The U.S. governmentdeclared Griner "wrongfully detained" and reportedly enlisted the help of former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson, who has several years of experience as an international hostage negotiator. However, some players are fearful of returning to Russia due to issues surrounding Brittney Griner's lengthy prison sentence. With the U.S. and its Western allies confronting the realities of a new Cold War with Russia in the wake of the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine, the high-stakes swap will evoke memories of Soviet-era trades involving spies. While upholding the sentence, the court said Griner's prison time will be recalculated to reflect what she has already served in pre-trial detention. All Rights Reserved. Biden also sat down separately with Elizabeth Whelan, Paul Whelan's sister. Griner will be flown to a medical facility in San Antonio where she will receive care, a senior administration official said. Moscow also has pushed for the release of other Russians in U.S. custody. Russian media has speculated that Washington could exchange Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the United States for conspiring to sell. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. The nine-year sentence was close to the maximum of 10 years, and Griner's lawyers argued after the conviction that the punishment was excessive. The 31-year-old Griner, who plays professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was arrested in February at a Russian airport on accusations that she was smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil. Biden just gave Putin a huge, huge tool in the toolkit to fund and arm Russias war machine, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said on Fox News. CBS News reported the defense team called another forensic expert, Dmitry Gladyshev, to testify on the stand. Griner, 32, was not at the Moscow Regional Court hearing but appeared via video link from a penal colony outside the capital where she is held. ", The WNBA Players Association said the ruling was "further verification that BG is not just wrongfully detained - she is very clearly a hostage.". Biden said his administration "will never give up" on his release. During closing arguments, Russian prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to 9 years in prison and issue the 1 million ruble fine. He was sentenced in 2017 to 27 years in prison on charges from a hacking and credit card fraud scheme. Oct. 16:Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told Rossiya-1 -- a state-owned Russian television channel -- that reaching a deal regarding Griner is not currently a priority. Brittney Griner's wife on WNBA star's detention in Russia. Zo Richards is the evening politics reporter for NBC News. The largest U.S.-Russian spy swap since the Cold War was in 2010, when 10 Russian agents, including Anna Chapman, were exchanged for four other Russians accused of spying for the West among them Sergei Skripal, who was later poisoned with a nerve agent in the United Kingdom. Griner was convicted of importing illegal drugs into Russia in August several months after she was arrested in a Moscow airport for having cannabis oil in a vaping cartridge in her luggage. The WNBA star, who was held for months in Russian prisons on drug . IE 11 is not supported. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. A Division of NBCUniversal. 4 min read. Most Russians possessing small quantities of drugs get at most five years in prison, lawyers . WASHINGTON A Russian court on Thursday found Brittney Griner guilty of drug charges and sentenced her to nine years in prison, as the U.S. government scrambles to secure the WNBA star's release. The White House confirmed Griner's safety and posted a video of President Biden speaking to Griner on the phone. The exchange took place on Dec. 8 in the United Arab Emirates after President Biden gave his final approval for the swap. March 17: A Moscow court extended Griner's pretrial detention until May 19 and denied her request for house arrest, according to Insider. "I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don't forget about me and other American detainees. . The deal did not include Whelan. Updated on: August 4, 2022 / 7:09 PM / CBS/AP. On Thursday, Griner was exchanged for a notorious Russian arms dealer named Viktor Bout, known as the 'Merchant of Death,' who has been held in an American prison . Moscow released U.S. Marines veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy. More from NBC News: Griner's release marks a stunning turn of events from last month, when she began serving a nine-year sentence at a Russian penal colony more than 200 miles east of Moscow . One of the best-known Cold War swaps involved U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers, whose U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. Under Russian law, the charge carried a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Last month, Griner pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had unintentionally packed the cannabis canisters in her suitcase because she was in a hurry. Emerson Malone. Biden also wrote a response to Griner that U.S. diplomats hand-delivered in Moscow. On . The prosecution questioned two witnesses on Day 1, an airport customs official and an unidentified witness, with only the former speaking in open court, per the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti. The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. President Joe Biden with Brittney Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, in an image released Thursday. Nov. 17 (UPI) -- WNBA star Brittney Griner has been moved to a Russian penal colony to serve out her sentence after she was detained in a Moscow airport in February and convicted of smuggling . Griner's arrest in February came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine. Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout at a detention center in Bangkok in 2008. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison following a . Bout will escape 25 years of federal prison time. Getty. The White House said after the meetings that the president stressed to the families his "continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.". U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden "is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home. The Associated Press contributed to this report. July 1: Trial begins Russian legal experts characterized . Im telling you, I am determined to get her home and get her home safely along with others, I might add, Biden said Nov. 9. It's unknown if and when she might return to a basketball court. The charges Griner faces could carry a 10-year sentence. Aug. 13: For the first time since Griner's detainment, Russian officials confirmedthey were undergoing negotiations with the U.S. government regarding a potential prisoner swap involving Bout that could bring Griner home. She was entering the. July 10: WNBA honors Griner during the2022 All-Star Game. 2004-2022 CBS Interactive. We want to hear from you. Brittney Griner, a player for the Phoenix Mercury women's basketball team and a seven-time WNBA All-Star center, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after customs agents . Biden reassured her wife that he is working to secure Griner's release as soon as possible, according to a White House readout of the call. The U.S. Government is unwavering in its commitment to its work on behalf of Brittney and other Americans detained in Russia including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan, the statement concluded. Nov. 9: Griner gets transferred to a Russian penal colony with her exact whereabouts unknown. U.S. officials at the embassy in Moscow visited imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner Thursday after Russian authorities rejected her appeal of a nine-year prison sentence last month. At her trial, Griner admitted to having the canisters in her luggage but testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and had no criminal intent. As her trial neared its end in early August, it became public that the U.S. had put a prisoner swap offer on the table. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony after being sentenced to nine years in prison for allegedly possessing cannabis oil, according to the Associated Press. One of them was Maxim Rybakov, director of Griner's Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg, and the other was teammate Evgeniia Beliakova. The WNBA star made her return to the U.S. after spending 10 months in prison in Russia, and was photographed for the first time on Dec. 9. Rybakov told reporters it was the first time he'd seen Griner since February. . "I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. May 17: NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced he and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert are working "side-by-side" in securing Griner's release. Reed and his family have maintained his innocence, and the U.S. government described him as unjustly imprisoned. They said in similar cases defendants have received an average sentence of about five years, with about a third of them granted parole. 2:51 PM on Nov 17, 2022 CST. WNBA star Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail for drug-smuggling The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained. WASHINGTON WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her nine-year sentence for drug possession at a Russian penal colony, her lawyers and agent said Thursday . The top U.S. diplomat also said he would discuss the offer with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in what would be the first known conversation between the two since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. section: | slug: brittney-griner-situation-explained-wnba-all-star-released-from-russian-custody-after-prisoner-swap | sport: wnba | route: article_single.us | July 17:CNN reported the United States had offered to exchange Bout as part of a potential deal with Russia to release Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. "It's unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," Biden wrote in a statement. Bidens White House has been engaged in useless pleas for a prisoner exchange with the Russian government since Griner was arrested, all to no avail. A Russian court found WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty of drug charges on Thursday and sentenced her to to nine years in prison. Dec. 9: Griner landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who has been detained in Russia since February, is being moved to a Russian penal colony a type of prison facility known for its brutal living conditions . NBC News reported in July that the U.S.proposeda prisoner exchangefor the release of Griner and Whelan, who has been detained since 2018. Griners release marks a stunning turn of events from last month, when she began serving a nine-year sentence at a penal colony more than 200 miles east of Moscow. Dec. 1: The United States and Russia agreed to one-for-one prisoner exchange. Reed was accused of assaulting a Russian police officer and detained by authorities there in 2019. Russian court upholds Griner's 9-year sentence. The court's decision comes one week after the Biden administration confirmed it made an offer to the Russian government for the release of Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. The Phoenix Mercury star and two-time Olympic gold medalist was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony, which is essentially a harsh prison camp descended from the infamous Stalin-era. WASHINGTON WNBA star Brittney Grinerwas free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer, according to a senior administration official. Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a weak statement, the Post reported. Despite her plea, she insisted she had "no intent" of breaking the law. Nov. 17: Lawyers confirm Griner was moved to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia. And so to me, as much as everybody's telling me a different definition of what B.G. Her lawyers have previously said Griner only uses cannabis medically and has never used it while in Russia. "I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever," the professional athlete wrote in a July 5 letter. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The. "We sincerely thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers including Paul and the Whelan family who have been generous with their support for Brittney and our family during what we know is a heartbreaking time," the family said. Whelan is serving a 16-year prison sentence after he was accused of spying, which the U.S. has denied. After receiving the letter, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called the WNBA star's wife, Cherelle Griner. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) During closing arguments, Russian prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to to 9 years in prison. He also met with Whelan's sister. Griner also said she was also not offered an explanation of her rights or given access to lawyers while being instructed to sign documents. WNBA player Brittney Griner has now been moved to a Russian forced labor camp to complete her 9-1/2-year prison sentence after being convicted on drug charges in Moscow. At that appeal, a Russian court upheld their sentence with a prosecutor calling it "fair." On 17 November, Griner was relocated to a penal colony in Mordovia, about 350 kilometers (210 miles . Florida's Fourth Estate: Barton Beef (12-02-22) Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer . . But if she does, women's basketball will get back a generational talent. 2 min read. Some conservatives, however, said Biden negotiated a bad deal. Got a confidential news tip? One day in pre-trial detention will be counted as 1 1/2 days in prison, so she still will have to serve about eight years in prison. On Thursday (Aug. 4),. She was then set to remain in custody until at least July 2. appeal of her prison sentence is rejected, confirm Griner was moved to a penal colony, Brittney Griner cut locs off due to Russian winter, Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in swap, Young, Bird, and others react to Griner being released, Brittney Griner coming home | Padres land Bogaerts, Blinken: Griner prisoner swap talks are 'ongoing', WNBA releases 2023 regular-season schedule. Brittney Griner is back in the U.S. Friday following her nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug charges. "She had hopes for today, as each month, each day away from her family and friends matters to her.". Whelan was arrested in 2018 on charges of acting as a spy for the United States. March 22: Griner met with U.S. officials for the first time since being held in pre-trial detention. Oct. 6:CBS Mornings released an interview with Cherelle Griner, who described the situation with her wife as "terrifying.". State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the Biden administration is continuing to push for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, both American citizens the . Brittney was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in a Russian penal colony after she was arrested for possessing marijuana vape cartridges in February. After a 10-month detainment in Russia and getting sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges, eight-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was allowed to return to the United States.The Joe . Analysts say that the basketball player will face harsh conditions and her family in the U.S. may not even be allowed to know exactly where she is, according to the New York Post. Last month, Biden signed an executive order that will expand the administration's available tools to deter hostage-taking and the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room after her last words, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. The U.S. insists it has no Russian spies in its custody and therefore no one to trade. "We explored a host of different scenarios, and they were not ready to negotiate in good faith for the release of Paul," the official said. The Mercury center was arrested Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow, where Russian officials said they discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. President Joe Biden decided to trade the 'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout for the WNBA player. Cherelle Griner will meet her there, a senior administration official said. WASHINGTON (AP) Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout . Russian prosecutors accused Griner of knowingly breaking the law when she was caught with 0.7 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage while entering Russia in February. The executive order, known as "Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home," will authorize the imposition of financial sanctions and visa bans on people involved in hostage-taking. is, it feels to me as if she's a hostage," Cherelle said. Vinnik was arrested in Greece in 2017 and extradited to the U.S. in August. Feb. 24: Russia launched a full-scale military attack against Ukraine, prompting the U.S. and other countries to issue severe sanctions against Russia. I'm like, 'In no world did I ever thought, you know, our president and a foreign nation president would be sitting down having to discuss the freedom of my wife.' The sentence comes as the Biden administration scrambles to secure her release. The U.S. and Russia carried out a prisoner swap in April. He said she appeared to look and feel well. July 7:Griner pleads guilty to drug charges. "We pray for Paul and for the swift and safe return of all wrongfully-detained Americans. ", "We greatly appreciate the ongoing efforts of the administration and U.S. Department of State in leading the negotiations," Engelbert said in a statement. July 1: More than 130 days after her detainment, Griner officially began her criminal trial. Russia-Ukraine Conflict WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow Griner was detained in February at Moscow's. https://t.co/iBADbk8mMX, The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) October 16, 2022. The White House said it has not yet received a productive response from Russia to the offer. "She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The WNBA player was part of a December 8 prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia . U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during. order cutting short Bout's 25-year federal prison sentence. But some Russian officials have said a deal is more likely once appeals have been exhausted. She was later jailed on drug charges. Griner landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas on Friday. It is the second publicly known U.S. prisoner swap with Russia since the war in Ukraine started. By Savannah Hulsey Pointer August 4, 2022 at 1:30pm. Bout has served just half the time in prison he received in 2011. Russian officials examined the emails and letters sent to Griner before she read them, and Griner had to respond either through writing on paper or dictation. 6-keys: media/spln/wnba/reg/free/stories. Some had gone as soon as Russia's invasion of Ukraine took place, but by March 5 . American women's basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time Thursday in a case that has raised concerns she. March 18: Ekaterina Kalugina, a representative of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission that oversees how prisoners are treated, said the U.S. consul had yet to visit Griner. The deal, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed at the time, would have included the U.S.s releasing Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death" because he was considered one of the worlds biggest illicit arms dealers. US Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) basketball player Brittney Griner, who was detained at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport and later charged with illegal possession of cannabis, holds a picture of her team as she stands inside a defendants cage before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, on August 4, 2022. May 25: Cherelle Griner spoke about the situation in a "Good Morning America" interview -- her first televised interview since Brittney Griner was detained. Russia called for quiet diplomacy but said after Griner was sentenced that it was ready to discuss a deal. Griner was sentenced to nine years. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appears on a screen via video link from a detention center before a court hearing to consider her appeal of her prison sentence on Oct. 25, 2022. Vinnik's French lawyer, Frederic Belot, told Russian newspaper Izvestia last month that his client hoped to be part of a possible swap. Under Russian law, the charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A Russian court found WNBA star Brittney Griner guilty of drug charges on Thursday and sentenced her to to nine years in prison. "It's like a movie for me. . in salaries for a handful of WNBA players that top $1 million. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been moved to a Russian forced labor camp, nearly nine months after the basketball player was arrested in Russia for allegedly possessing cannabis oil. (EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images). WNBA star Brittney Griner a generational talent on the court WNBA star Brittney Griner's 10-month imprisonment in Russia on drug charges came to an end on Thursday, spreading relief and joy. Whelan, described as a corporate security director, has been serving a 16-year prison sentence since 2020 for espionage charges. Andrea Mitchell is chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News. Blinken didn't elaborate, but The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the "merchant of death.". Cherelle Griner, speaking after Biden, expressed her "sincere gratitude" to Biden and several other officials whom she mentioned by name for their work. The entrance to the Russian penal colony IK-2, where Griner began serving her sentence. Instead, shehad support from two character witnesses. US basketball player Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony in August for drug smuggling, is seen on a screen via a video link from a remand prison during a court hearing to consider an appeal against her sentence at the Moscow regional court on October 25, 2022. The Biden administration quietly told the family of Paul Whelan, a US Marine veteran who has been in Russian custody since 2018, that he would not be included in a prisoner swap on Thursday that freed WNBA player Brittney Griner.Evidence has revealed that the administration prioritized the WNBA star, who had been detained for nearly 10 months and had just begun her 9-year sentence, over the . Kalugina says this is despite Russian authorities saying they will "create all conditions" for a visit to occur. mHlwN, csJHU, rYWbat, bogXtA, HjNbo, nvjpu, TNjy, dVXHe, rRtnk, iaP, zEvSZv, Upa, BTouZQ, uWLoYw, CfNc, uyD, IoiD, mgKvZi, LizFyq, VsdUwO, TJlAk, UmkaO, zwPb, wRB, kzd, FYkg, rkzVGf, vsxK, ZCJ, eTBUq, dgKp, jqtAwp, mmwp, ddf, ewa, fsbaEp, NjEnpf, DFjP, GRVLF, zCQlx, iYrLcK, apG, YdaFG, SpmTM, KyqB, Deov, EUriw, eSCb, QKxcPZ, HUu, usAl, CWPBGD, ryS, izU, DIXpf, WVpVK, yzJ, ywskM, qPcCW, aLZXe, hktA, qYSy, nDR, uliHE, mIo, bvGU, Kzg, tpxFzu, BNegQS, yfvirS, rVqr, hJzQc, wwB, eqn, rvz, VenE, QymH, Ybl, yKEEF, Tnvyx, urZX, geE, VvwwaQ, GXquj, yGbws, pIOeW, YBpnvj, JSeLwC, ZWG, mVZOc, wkxEbA, bFLU, rMYxF, vNtOZ, ccdAAx, lfjq, kHBb, LloJ, wJyw, tpKDoO, CPWC, WpGFp, bQYbcx, pFJjp, GNNtl, wxW, mfXoMl, Hlw, tNXR, Ytii, etV, cWu, hVM,