A Russian courtroom on Thursday observed American basketball star Brittney Griner guilty of drug costs and sentenced her to nine many years in prison, the culmination of a trial that has stirred tensions among Moscow and the United States.

Griner, who has been detained due to the fact February, appeared in the courtroom before in the day to charm for leniency, as her attorneys and the prosecution sent closing arguments.

The Russian prosecutor asked the decide presiding around the situation to sentence Griner to nine-and-a-50 percent yrs.

The guilty verdict, which was handed down all-around 11 a.m. on the East Coastline in the United States, was widely anticipated and places Griner’s fate “subject to diplomatic bargaining between Russia and the United States,” as The New York Moments set it.

In latest days, Russian and U.S. officers have been discussing a possible prisoner exchange involving Griner and Viktor Bout, a Russian arms supplier currently serving a 25-12 months jail sentence in the United States.

Very last week, the Biden administration produced an supply to Russia that would see the launch of Bout, Griner, and Paul Whelan, an American who has been detained in Russia on espionage fees due to the fact 2018.

Before this week, Bloomberg noted that Russia experienced turned down that give, in its place favoring a deal that would safe the launch of two Russian prisoners.

The New York Moments documented on Thursday that “officials in Moscow have stated that a verdict in her demo was a necessary precondition for a attainable exchange” for Griner.

Griner, a star for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, was touring again to Russia on February 17 to full her season for UMMC Ekaterinburg––for whom she performs in the course of the WNBA’s offseason––when authorities found cannabis oil in her baggage. She was arrested and confronted drug fees that carried a jail sentence of up to 10 decades.

Her detention, which came mere days ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has grow to be yet another tension in the geopolitical strife concerning Moscow and the west. In May, the U.S. Office of State reclassified as “wrongfully detained.”

Griner pleaded responsible to the expenses previous month, but insisted that it was not her intention to crack the legislation. Addressing the courtroom on Thursday, she the moment once again appealed for leniency.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I manufactured and the shame that I introduced on them,” Griner mentioned, as quoted by the Connected Push, which pointed out that her voice was “cracking.” “I want to also apologize to my moms and dads, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury group back at residence, the remarkable women of the WNBA, and my wonderful partner again at property.”

Griner also spoke warmly of her expertise actively playing for Ekaterinburg since 2014.

“I had no concept that the team, the cities, the lovers, my teammates would make this kind of a fantastic effect on me more than the 6 1/2 a long time that I put in listed here,” she stated, in accordance to the Related Push. “I try to remember vividly coming out of the fitness center and all the small women that had been in the stands there waiting on me, and that is what stored building me come again right here.”

President Joe Biden has confronted expanding pressure to secure Griner’s launch.

Final thirty day period, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Griner’s wife, Cherelle, after Griner sent the president a handwritten letter.

“As I sit in this article in a Russian jail, alone with my ideas and with out the defense of my spouse, relatives, mates, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I may well be in this article for good,” Griner stated in the letter to Biden.

“I understand you are dealing with so significantly, but please never ignore about me and the other American Detainees,” Griner ongoing. “Please do all you can to bring us property. I voted for the very first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I consider in you. I still have so substantially excellent to do with my flexibility that you can assistance restore. I miss out on my wife! I overlook my spouse and children! I skip my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much correct now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this instant to get me household.”