From CNN's Anna Chernova
The Moscow Regional Court has left US basketball star Brittney Griner's verdict in place, upholding the earlier decision from the Khimki city court, which means that Griner's conviction for smuggling drugs into the country will stand.
Griner's sentence of nine years in prison will be slightly decreased, as the judge ruled to count the time spent in custody since Feb. 17. Each day Griner spent in pre-trial detention will count as 1.5 days toward her prison sentence, the judge ruled. It is not yet clear exactly how much that will reduce her sentence.
The outcome means the "legal process will be basically over," one of Griner's lawyers, Alexander Boykov of the Moscow Legal Center, previously told CNN.
Griner was initially taken into custody at a Moscow airport days before the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine when authorities accused her of trying to smuggle less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. She plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason.
The All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury pleaded guilty to drug charges, telling the court during her trial that vape cartridges containing the cannabis oil were in her luggage because she had packed her bags in a hurry.
Brittney Griner's 9-Year Prison Sentence Upheld in Russian Court After Appeal
It would be so awesome if Russia legalized Marijuana the day after she was released.
The Moscow Regional Court has left US basketball star Brittney Griner's verdict in place, upholding the earlier decision from the Khimki city court, which means that Griner's conviction for smuggling drugs into the country will stand.
Griner's sentence of nine years in prison will be slightly decreased, as the judge ruled to count the time spent in custody since Feb. 17. Each day Griner spent in pre-trial detention will count as 1.5 days toward her prison sentence, the judge ruled. It is not yet clear exactly how much that will reduce her sentence.
The outcome means the "legal process will be basically over," one of Griner's lawyers, Alexander Boykov of the Moscow Legal Center, previously told CNN.
Griner was initially taken into custody at a Moscow airport days before the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine when authorities accused her of trying to smuggle less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. She plays in Russia during the WNBA's offseason.
The All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury pleaded guilty to drug charges, telling the court during her trial that vape cartridges containing the cannabis oil were in her luggage because she had packed her bags in a hurry.
Brittney Griner's 9-Year Prison Sentence Upheld in Russian Court After Appeal
It would be so awesome if Russia legalized Marijuana the day after she was released.
