Brittney Griner trial and Russia-Ukraine news
Attorney for WNBA star Brittney Griner, Maria Blagovolina, said Griner’s defense team has 10 days to appeal the court’s decision that Griner was guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced her to nine years in prison.
Earlier today, in a written statement following the court’s decision, both Griner’s attorneys, Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said they would appeal.
Later, speaking to journalists outside the Khimki courthouse near the Moscow region, Boykov said that the average prison time for this type of crime was five years, adding that nearly a third of those convicted were granted parole. amnesty.
Blagovolina, a partner at law firm Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners, told journalists that Griner was “not good today”.
Boykov added that the WNBA star passed on to her lawyers a message for her family that should not be made public. Griner’s security team hopes that she will be able to speak to her family next week.
Blagovolina added that Griner will return to the detention center where she is currently being held. Both attorneys agree that Griner has been treated well so far.
Asked about the US prisoner swap offer, Griner’s lawyers said they had no information.
“Unfortunately, we’re not involved in this process,” Blagovolina said, answering CNN’s questions outside of court.