Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison Thursday in Russia after being found guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent.
Griner, who also was fined 1 million rubles (a little more than $16,000), is expected to serve her sentence in a penal colony. After the sentencing, social media was (for the most part) enraged.
Griner, 31, was arrested and accused of possession of vape cartridges of cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February, Newsweek reported. Her defense team has maintained that Griner mistakenly packed the cartridges, but "criminal intent" portion of the verdict was a clear rejection of the defense.
In a statement, Griner's Russian law firm told Newsweek: "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. This contradicts the existing legal practice."
Her legal team has said from the start that it would plan to appeal, adding on Thursday: "The court completely ignored all evidence."
When news of the verdict broke, former teammates, celebrity supporters, fellow athletes, politicians and even some detractors were quick to share their reactions.
President Joe Biden said in a statement: "Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It's unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately."
Biden's administration had been in talks with Russia about a trade of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and American Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia for alleged spying since 2018. Russian President Vladimir Putin could try to use Griner's conviction as a bargaining chip amid increasingly tense U.S.-Russia relations.
Griner is a Black American who is also a lesbian. Russia notoriously has an LGBTQ "propaganda" ban. Some followers of the case have questioned how much those elements, combined with the state of the U.S. relationship with Russia since the start of the Ukraine war in late February, possibly influenced the verdict.
Read on for more Twitter reactions to Griner's sentencing.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement regarding Brittney Griner: pic.twitter.com/FMQZsHBDVv
— NBA (@NBA) August 4, 2022
I underlined in my 1st LP Yo Bum Rush The Show with 'The Governments Responsible ' it meant plural & every single one of them. Govts are the cancers of civilization.The Brittany Griner situation exemplary of this devilry. Dangling her life. 116 countries for me I can't truss em.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) August 4, 2022
My heart breaks for Brittney Griner, her wife & her family! I need America to do all that it can to get this woman home immediately! End this nightmare!
— Sherri Shepherd (@sherrieshepherd) August 4, 2022
Free Brittney Griner! 🙏🏾 #BrittneyGriner pic.twitter.com/DoJNzGsGsN
It seems like the Russians are doing to Griner what the Biden administration is doing to non-violent January 6 protesters. Hard for us to feign indignation when the same thing is going on here!
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 4, 2022
Russia prosecutors seek 9.5-year sentence for Brittney Griner https://t.co/Vh4wpNa6Sn
BRING BRITTNEY GRINER HOME!!!
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 4, 2022
Brittney Griner is a cautionary tale. Hate America? Think it's oppressive? Go to another country, play stupid games and find out what oppression and "No justice" looks like. Too bad too sad. ✌🏼
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 4, 2022
The Russian court's conviction and sentencing of U.S. citizen Brittney Griner spotlights our concerns with the Russian government's use of wrongful detentions. I am committed to ensuring we do everything we can to bring home Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan as soon as possible.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 4, 2022
Russia's wrongful detaining and sentencing of Brittney Griner is unacceptable. We must do everything in our power to bring her—and other wrongfully detained Americans—home.
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) August 4, 2022
Absolutely disgraceful. Brittney Griner should be home with her wife and loved ones, but instead her life is being wielded as a political pawn by Russians in the war against Ukraine.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) August 4, 2022
Free her immediately. https://t.co/1ocKCTD4wF
Brittney Griner's sentence is unjust and unacceptable. I join in the calls for the Russian government to release Brittney from this wrongful detainment and return her home to her loved ones.
— Steny Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) August 4, 2022
REV. AL SHARPTON SLAMS HARSH SENTENCE ON BRITTNEY GRINER BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 4, 2022
Urges Immediate Clergy for Him and Other Faith Leaders to Pray Over Detained WNBA Starhttps://t.co/ELPERF70Bf pic.twitter.com/ohBxOZrPFv
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