Brittney Griner Opens Up About The Stupid Mistake She Made That Led To Her Arrest In Russia
Brittney Griner (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has gone in-depth about her arrest and conviction in Russia two years ago.
Brittney Griner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport in Feb. 17, 2022 for possessing a small quantity of hash oil. Though legal in several US states (including Arizona), the substance is illegal in Russia.
Less than six months after her arrest, the WNBA legend was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. But in December 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden reached an agreement on a prisoner exchange with Russian authorities.
Griner was released from custody and sent back to the United States in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, who spent 10 years in prison.
During an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” program that will air on Wednesday, Griner explained that she simply had an unfortunate “mental lapse” that led to the arrest and detainment in Russia:
“Have you ever forgot your keys in your car? Left your car running? Have you ever– you know, where’s my glasses? They’re on top of your head. Where’s my phone? Oh, it’s in my pocket. It’s just so easy to have a mental lapse. Granted, my mental lapse was on a more grand scale. But it doesn’t take away from how that can happen…
I could just visualize everything I worked so hard for just crumbling and going away. And then to be somewhere where there’s no understanding…This was a mistake. It was an accident, which I understand accidents have repercussions. And I’m American in Russia where relations aren’t the best. You know?”