UPDATE: FREE BRITTNEY GRINER TINA MARIE JONES

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We previously reported on Brittney Griner’s false imprisonment. Brittney, a 31-year-old, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, professional basketball player for WNBA team Phoenix Mercury, (like many others) also plays for the UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia for the past seven years. In February, Brittney was detained at the Sheremetyevo International Airport accused of smuggling ‘large amounts of” paraphernalia.” The WNBA and their representatives say they have kept close and constant contact with Brittney, but how can they? On February 10, 2022, all WNBA representatives and the over 12 American basketball players that were in both Russia and Ukraine left thereafter.

LET’S REVISIT THE FACTS OF THE CASE:

FACTS:

Brittney played in Russia most recently on January 29, 2022, the league took a two week break prior to the FIBA World Cup Tournaments.

The WNBA and the NBA share the same Anti-Drug Use Policy for their players. The players submit to random drug test 4 times a season. The last test is done at the end of the season. Anyone who is found with drugs in their system is released from their team. FIBA Basketball League published their Anti-Doping (Anti-Drug Policy) January 1, 2022. They share a very similar approach to intolerance to drugs for their players.

In 2004, Russia decriminalized drug use and possession of a small weight of drugs.

The Russian law says, “Possession without intent to supply in amounts exceeding .5 grams of heroin, opium, or morphine (as these are most prominently overdosed in Russia.)

Brittney was detained during a time of discord between Russia and USA as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

President Biden has not issued a specific example as to how he is planning on rescuing Brittney from Russia’s custody.

Russia has not released the specific amount of vape cartridges that were confiscated from Brittney’s luggage – WHAT IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF PARAPHERNALIA? One vape at most holds 1ml which is 1gram. The math is, then is simple; a few cartridges of oil are exactly a few grams.

An American Citizen is being held without a trial from February until May, and we are just waiting to see what happens?

After 6 months of being in jail, Brittney had her day in court. During the trial, Brittney was allowed to address the court. She said, “I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put the Russian population in jeopardy, I never meant to break any laws here. I made an honest mistake and I hope that your ruling doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about being a political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom. I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not

conspire or plan to commit this crime,” she added. After hearing all the witnesses in the case, the court found Brittney guilty and sentenced her to 9 years in prison. According to CNN, “Griner’s lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said in a written statement they will appeal the decision and criticized the court for ignoring their evidence. They have 10 days to appeal. “We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality. The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea,” they said in the statement. “This contradicts the existing legal practice. Considering the amount of the substance (not to mention the defects of the expertise) and the plea, the verdict is unreasonable. We will certainly file an appeal.” Boykov spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and said that the average time in jail for this type of crime is five years, adding that almost a third of those convicted get parole. Griner “is not doing fine today,” said Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm. The defense team is hopeful that Griner will be able to talk to her family next week. Blagovolina added that Griner will return to the detention center where she is being held. This harsh sentence is outrageous! It is apparent that it is directly related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US involvement. President Joe Biden and the US State Department reports they believe she is being falsely imprisoned and has offered to do a prisoner swap. Russia has yet to respond to this proposal. This request is for the release of both Brittney Griner and another US citizen who has been held in Russia for espionage since 2018.

We will remain connected to this story. We hope and pray that Brittney is released from prison and returns safely to the United States. Our heart goes out to Brittney’s wife. Please keep the family and loved ones of Brittney Griner in your prayers.