Griner’s lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov urged the three-judge panel on Tuesday to acquit or reduce her sentence but instead, they upheld the nine-year sentence on drug smuggling charges, clearing the way for Griner to serve her time in a penal colony unless the U.S. government can negotiate a deal for her release.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called the decision "another sham judicial proceeding today. President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately."
