Brittney Griner Could Face Up To Ten Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Drug Charges in a Russian Court

To be released or not to be. The fate of Brittney Griner, two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist, just took a drastic turn when she pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Russian court near Moscow – her lawyers confirmed to the media this Thursday.

Leading up to the guilty plea, there’s been a lot of push for President Joe Biden to step in and “rescue” Griner, whom the US State Department classified as wrongfully detained. She currently faces up to ten years in prison.

Griner Was Found Clean When She Was Tested, But It Was Her Decision to Plead Guilty

Griner’s lawyers are hoping that her guilty plea will be taken into account by the court. Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina told journalists Thursday that they’re hoping for leniency for the

Phoenix Mercury player. Many are suggesting that the 31-year-old is being used as a political pawn amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Samples taken from Griner did not show any traces of drug, Boykov said, adding, “She was clean, and she was tested.”

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Griner’s Russian legal team praised the sportswoman for her bravery in admitting to plead guilty.

“She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” their statement read.

“Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”

Her lawyers are saying that the trial will be rounding up by the beginning of August.

What Brittney Griner’s Plea Could Mean For Her Conviction

According to a source close to the basketballer, the decision to plead guilty was hers alone. However, she extensively discussed the decision with her family, lawyers and experts.

Due to the 99% reported conviction rate in Russian criminal cases, Griner was made to weigh all the factors, including a plea that could ultimately result in a shorter sentence.

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Some are saying that the plea deal could mean that Griner will be released and returned to the US in a prisoner swap, as was Trevor Reed, an American veteran detained in Russia for three years before his April release.

At this time there’s no confirmation that a potential swap is in Griner’s future.

Still, even if there were to be a prisoner swap, Russia’s justice system insists that the person must admit to being at fault.

Reed eventually gave in and signed a document saying he was guilty – something he had resisted for almost the entirety of his detention – just days before he was let out, a senior US official said.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Brittney Griner right now. Come back here often for all Brittney Griner spoilers, news, and updates.

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