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Brittney Griner's Lawyers Say Russian Appeals Court Verdict Has 'Numerous Defects'

Meanwhile, the White House calls the court hearing a ‘sham’ and vows to ‘make every effort’ to bring the WNBA star home.

Lawyers for WNBA star Brittney Griner said there are “numerous defects” in the Russian appeals court’s decision to uphold her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.

“We are very disappointed. The verdict contains numerous defects and we hoped that the court of appeal would take them into consideration. We still think the punishment is excessive and contradicts the existing court practice,” Griner’s attorneys Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in a widely reported statement on Tuesday (Oct. 25) after the decision.

Earlier that day, the Moscow regional court rejected the basketball star’s appeal to reduce or throw out her nearly decade-long sentence. However, the court accounted for her time served in pretrial detention, leaving Griner with eight years remaining for her sentence.

RELATED: Brittney Griner Loses Appeal Against Nine Year Prison Sentence In Russia

“Brittney’s biggest fear is that she is not exchanged and will have to serve the whole sentence in Russia,” the statement continued. “She had hopes for today, as each month, each day away from her family and friends matters to her.”

The Biden administration classified Griner as “wrongfully detained” by its former Cold War enemy and has been under pressure to secure her release. Administration officials and Russia are negotiating a possible prisoner swap that would potentially free Griner and fellow detained American Paul Whelen in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in a U.S. prison.

The White House denounced Tuesday's “sham judicial proceedings” in Russia, adding that the administration is using “every available channel and make every effort” to bring Griner and Whelen home.

“The Administration remains in regular touch with representatives of the families, and we continue to admire their courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added.

RELATED: Former Gov. Bill Richardson ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Of Brittney Griner’s Released This Year

On Aug. 4, the Khimki city court in Russia convicted and sentenced the two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Phoenix Mercury center for the vape canisters containing cannabis oil found in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in February. 

Griner, who was playing in the off season for UMMC Ekaterinburg pleaded guilty to the drug-smuggling charge but explained that she accidentally packed marijuana, which she uses medically to treat a knee injury.

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