Compared to the crimes that Russia commits every day in Ukraine, the sentence against American basketball player Griner seems like a petty crime.
But even in this case, Putin's dictatorship reveals its true colors.
It has been a long time since there was an independent judiciary in Russia.
She volunteered in Putin's service or was forced to do so.
In such a system, prosecutors and judges no longer need explicit orders;
they practice anticipatory obedience.
Which is really why Griner was convicted
Griner was not sentenced to nine years in a camp because she had brought a few cartridges of hash oil for e-cigarettes with her when she entered the country, which she had been prescribed as a painkiller.
It's because she's a well-known American and the Kremlin needs prisoners with long sentences to swap them out for real criminals in Western prisons.
In America, a large caliber is waiting to return to Russia, the arms dealer Bout.
Allegedly, Moscow is also asking for the zoo murderer Krasikov, who the court is convinced was acting on behalf of the Russian state.
But he is not based in America, but in Germany.
Germans should therefore also think twice about traveling to Russia during the Second Cold War.
There could be nasty surprises at the baggage check and then in court.