U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been sent to a Russian penal colony
NPR Online NewsDec 23, 2022
The Facts
US basketball star Brittney Griner has been moved to a Russian penal colony to serve her sentence for drug possession and smuggling, her legal team has reported.
Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport on Feb. 17 — a week before Russia's invasion of Ukraine — after she was found with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. She subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment on Aug. 4.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Regardless of how Russia wants to classify its holding of Griner, the US has made persistent advances to try to secure her release but there has been no cooperation from Moscow. Russia should stop playing games and negotiate for her and Whelan’s release.
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia has no use for theatrics from the US and would only negotiate in a quiet setting out of the public eye. Nonetheless, Griner isn’t "wrongfully held" — she's incarcerated because she violated Russian law, and the punishment fits the crime.
