JAKARTA - Britney Griner's lawyer, Alexandr D. Boykov, revealed that his client was not sure he would soon be released from Russian prison. The WNBA star was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession.
Griner was arrested in February at an airport near Moscow by customs officers, who found marijuana oil in his suitcase.
"He's not completely sure that America will be able to take him home," Boykov told the New York Times, quoted Friday.
"He is very worried about how much it costs, and he is afraid he will have to serve his entire sentence here in Russia."
Reports claim that the Biden administration is willing to continue the exchange of prisoners with Russia in their bid to bring Griner and former marine Paul Whelan back to the US.
Boykov also revealed that Griner was worried about the prison where he might end. For now, he is allowed to walk outdoors just once a day, spending a day in a cell with several more prisoners.
Griner has appealed the final verdict and his appeal is scheduled to take place on October 25.
"Maybe the verdict will somehow be changed and, maybe, the sentence will be reduced, because the decisions taken by the first court are very different from the practice of the judiciary," Boykov added.
"Considering all circumstances, taking into account the personality characteristics of my client and his confession of guilt, such a verdict should not be possible."
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