Brittney Griner is appealing her nine-year prison sentence in Russia

Brittney Griner’s lawyers have filed an appeal against the nine-year jail sentence handed down to the American basketball star by a Russian judge for drug possession.

The 31-year-old was detained back in February after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her bag when she flew to Moscow to play basketball in the WNBA off-season.

Griner has pleaded guilty to the drug charges, however, pleaded that she had no intent to break the Russian law.

Read more:

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She told the court: “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling, that it doesn't end my life here.”

The politically charged case has been brought to the limelight with the Biden administration offering to trade notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout in order to secure her release.

The Russian dealer nicknamed ‘The Merchant of Death’ is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.

However, the latest appeal from her lawyers seems to indicate that a deal has not yet been struck.

Griner’s lawyer Maria Blagovolina confirmed to Reuters that the appeal had been made, however, declined to provide any further details behind the appeal and when it could be heard.

The defence team had argued in court that some of the case files had been drawn up without being translated to Griner in English.

Blagovolina said that the conviction was excessive compared to similar cases where previous detainees have received an average sentence of five years, while a third had been granted parole.

Meanwhile, her team has presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.

Alexander Boikov, a lawyer part of Griner’s team at Moscow Legal Center told Reuters: "We demand to overturn the verdict passed by the Khimki court and impose a new sentence.”

President Joe Biden had labelled the verdict ‘unacceptable’. 

The United States is also working to bring home Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. 

Reports had emerged that Bout would be offered in exchange for both Griner and Whelan.

Despite the appeal in Griner’s case, a senior Russian diplomat revealed to state news agency Tass that exchange talks had taken place. 

Head of the foreign ministry’s North America department, Alexander Darchiev said: “This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and US citizens is being discussed through the channels defined by our presidents. These individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The details should be left to professionals, proceeding from the ‘do not harm’ principle.”