Russian prosecutors seeking 9.5 years in penal colony for NBA player Brittney Griner
16:30, 04/08/2022, Thursday
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Drug smuggling charges against Griner are fully proven, say prosecutors
The drug smuggling charges against NBA player Brittney Griner are fully proven, Russian prosecutors told a court in Moscow region on Thursday, seeking nine-and-a-half years for her in a penal colony.
Prosecutors at the Khimki City Court also sought a fine of 1 million rubles (around $16,600) for the American basketball player.
Griner, 31, is a basketball player who was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport after Russian authorities said they found cannabis oil in her possession.
She pleaded guilty earlier in July to drug charges but has maintained she used medicinal cannabis to treat pain and denied she intended to violate Russian law.
The US earlier proposed to free two Americans in Russian custody -- Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.
Whelan has been held in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.