Lawyers for Brittney Griner appeal verdict that sentenced her to 9 years in prison in Russia

Russia and the US ready to discuss a prisoner exchange 2:14 (CNN) – The legal team of the American athlete Brittney Griner appealed the verdict of a court in Russia that sentenced her to nine years in prison for drug smuggling , his lawyer Maria Blagovolina told CNN on Monday. The US State Department maintains that Griner was wrongfully detained. And her case has raised concerns that she may be being used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine. US officials even offered a possible prisoner swap with Russia to try to get Griner back home. Griner, 31, was arrested last February for having cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage. The Olympic basketball gold medalist pleaded guilty to drug-related charges and she said she packed the cannabis by accident while she was rushing her suitcase. The sentence of 9 years in prison, together with a fine of approximately US$16,400, was issued by Judge Anna Sotnikova, of the Khimki City Court, on August 4. In the ruling, Sotnikova noted that the court considered Griner’s partial admission of guilt, her remorse for the events, her state of health and her charitable activities. Paul Whelan’s name discussed for prisoner swap, as well as Brittney Griner Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has been mentioned in bilateral talks between Moscow and Washington for a prisoner swap involving Griner and American Paul Whelan. This was stated this Saturday by the director of the North American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Darchiev, to the Russian state media TASS. Whelan has been detained in Russia for alleged espionage since 2018. “This rather sensitive issue about the exchange of convicted Russian and American citizens is being discussed through the channels that our presidents defined. These individuals are, in fact, being discussed. The part The Russian Federation has long sought Viktor Bout’s release. Details should be left to professionals, based on the ‘do no harm’ principle,” Darchiev told TASS. In his remarks, Darchiev sought to respond to a request for comment on US news reports that US officials have sent a proposal to Moscow about swapping Bout for Griner and Whelan, TASS reported. During months of internal wrangling between US agencies, the Justice Department opposed the Bout trade, according to people briefed on the matter. However, Justice officials eventually agreed that a Bout trade has the support of top officials at the State Department and the White House, including President Joe Biden, according to the sources. The Russian government has frequently proposed Bout for a possible trade for various Americans. Bout’s attorney has said he is “confident” the trade will go through. CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Evan Perez, Jennifer Hansler and Chandelis Duster contributed to this report.