WNBA star Brittney Griner is becoming more nervous that she may not be released from the Russian prison in which she is currently serving a nine-year sentence for drug possession charges.
Griner, 31, has been detained in Russia since the beginning of the year, and according to her lawyer, her hopes for returning to the U.S. grow fewer every day.
Alexandr D. Boykov, her attorney, shared in an interview with the New York Times that she is not hopeful at the idea of a prisoner swap freeing her and another American being held in Russia, despite the Biden administration's efforts.
"She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home," Boykov told the Times. "She is very worried about what the price of that will be, and she is afraid that she will have to serve the whole sentence here in Russia."
Boykov also shared that Griner is worried about the condition of the prison she may end up in. Currently, she is being held in a cell, with two other prisoners, that is small for the 6-foot-9 basketball star. She also is only allowed outside once a day.
In August, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after cannabis oil was found in her luggage at the Moscow airport. She has appealed the sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 25.
The U.S. has called the entire case a "sham judicial proceeding" as tensions between America and Russia are high due to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Even still, Griner's attorney has requested for her sentence to be reduced. Boykov remains hopeful that something could change and Griner could be allowed to return home.
"Perhaps the verdict will somehow be changed and, perhaps, the sentence will be reduced, because the decision taken by the first court is very different from judicial practice," Boykov said. "Considering all the circumstances, taking into account my client's personality traits and her admission of guilt, such a verdict should be absolutely impossible."
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