The Moscow district court delivered a ruling on Tuesday in a case involving American basketball star Brittney Griner. The court upheld the conviction for drug smuggling into Russia while adjusting the sentence to reflect time already served in pre-trial detention.
In a move that narrows the penalty, the court reduced Griner’s nine-year term by the portion of time she spent in custody before trial. The precise number of days shaved from the sentence has not been confirmed publicly, but observers expect the overall reduction to be modest rather than transformative.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, the three-judge panel stated that the decision altered only the compensation for pre-trial detention and that all other aspects of the verdict remained the same. This aligns with the court’s earlier position that Griner had entered the country with marijuana-derived products and oils, and that the court found her guilty of possession and alleged trafficking after she acknowledged a mistake during proceedings.
Griner was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport on February 17 after customs officials reportedly discovered cartridges containing oil-based substances. The nine-year sentence followed a trial in which she admitted guilt and expressed remorse for what prosecutors described as a serious violation of Russian drug laws.
US insists on a trade
The White House has argued that Griner’s arrest was unjust and has pressed for a broader exchange. The administration has floated a potential swap involving Paul Whelan, a former Marine who is serving a conviction for espionage in Russia, with Victor Bout, a former arms dealer currently serving a 25-year sentence in the United States. The case has become a focal point in discussions about U.S.-Russia diplomatic diplomacy and hostage-style detention practices.
Following the appeal denial, White House officials voiced concern that Griner could be detained in conditions deemed intolerable while a questionable court process unfolds. The administration has asserted that timely action is necessary to secure her return home to the United States, alongside other Americans who remain detained abroad.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan outlined, in a public briefing, that Washington remains engaged with Moscow to pursue a resolution. In remarks attributed to the administration, President Joe Biden and his team emphasized a readiness to pursue exchanges and negotiations when possible, while continuing to apply diplomatic pressure to safeguard the well-being and swift release of U.S. nationals.
The ongoing dialogue underscores a broader policy aim to resolve cases of Americans detained overseas and to ensure they have the opportunity to return to the United States under appropriate legal and humanitarian terms. Observers note that the situation touches on sensitive issues of international law, sovereignty, and the handling of foreign nationals under criminal charges far from home.