Tyson's Blog

Russian court rejected Brittney Griner’s appeal to her nine year sentence on drug charges.

This rejection brings the United States closer to having to make a high stakes prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. Bringing Griner home is on the Biden administrations to do list.

Griner was not present at the Moscow Regional Court hearing about her appeal but was shown via video from a penal colony outside the capital where she is currently being held.

The nine-year sentences seems excessive given the maximum sentence of ten years. Griner admitted to having the canisters in her luggage but testified that she packed them accidently in the rush to make the flight home and had no criminal intent.

The article shares the information on the case and the current events that are happening to attempt to bring Griner home. Some information that we get in article that is not included in the video story is about the tensions between Russia and the United States. The prisoner Russia has asked to swap for Griner was an arms dealer back in Russia. We also get more on past prisoner swaps with Russia and how determined Biden is to bring home honorable and wrongfully detained Americans from other countries.

The video from ESPN though was more of a push for the support of bringing Griner home as soon as possible by gathering more support from fans. Claims that the Biden Administration needs to act were mentioned in the video. The Biden Administration made an offer to Russia which was countered with a different offer that wasn’t feasible at this point.

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