WNBA star Brittney Griner is ‘pessimistic’ as Russian court hears her appeal - NBC News

A Russian appeals tribunal is proceeding the lawsuit of WNBA prima Brittney Griner, who was sentenced successful August to 9 years successful prison successful what the U.S. has called a wrongful detention.

Griner, 32, was attending the hearing in the Moscow Regional Court aboriginal Tuesday via video league from the detention halfway wherever she is being held. The jock is expected to beryllium moved to a penal colony if her entreaty is denied.

Griner “is rather pessimistic astir the outcome” of the appeal, 1 of her attorneys, Maria Blagovolina, said Monday.

“She hopes determination volition beryllium immoderate simplification but not that the verdict volition beryllium overruled,” Blagovolina said connected MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.”

Griner, a two-time Olympic golden medalist who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was sentenced successful August to 9 years successful situation connected cause charges.

She was detained astatine Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport successful February, aft Russian authorities said they recovered vape canisters with cannabis lipid successful her luggage.

Griner pleaded guilty successful July but said that it was an accident, that she had brought them to Russia unintentionally and that she had packed hurriedly for a flight. Medical cannabis, which is amerciable successful Russia, is ineligible successful astir of the U.S.

U.S. officials accidental Griner is being wrongfully detained. State Department spokesperson Ned Price called the judicial proceedings “largely shambolic” Monday.

“Wrongful detainees are by explanation wrongfully held. They are utilized arsenic governmental pawns, arsenic leverage,” Price said. “It is our extremity to spot them location arsenic soon arsenic we can.”

Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, has said Brittney Griner is being held hostage.

The U.S. has proposed a captive speech with Russia for the merchandise of Griner and different American, Paul Whelan, a firm enforcement who has been detained determination since 2018, 2 sources acquainted with the substance said. The woody would see the U.S.’s releasing imprisoned Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, the sources person said.

When she was detained, Griner had been successful Russia to play for a Russian Premier League women’s team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, arsenic she had done since 2014.

Lawyers for Griner filed an appeal successful August, aft she was sentenced.

In April, Russia released American Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S.’s releasing Russian cause trafficker Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been sentenced to 20 years successful prison.

Reed, a erstwhile Marine, was sentenced to 9 years successful situation successful Russia successful 2020 aft authorities determination said helium assaulted a Russian constabulary serviceman aft a nighttime of drinking. Reed and his household person maintained his innocence.