A Russian court has upheld the first-instance judgment of an American female professional basketball player who was appealing a nine-year prison sentence for possessing drugs illegal in Russia.
The Biden administration in the United States is working toward her release, which is expected to further deepen the conflict with Russia.
Britney Greiner, an American women's professional basketball player, was arrested in February this year for possession of illegal drugs in Russia during a luggage inspection at an airport in the suburbs of Moscow, and was charged with drug smuggling.
A court in Moscow, Russia, sentenced Greiner to nine years in prison in August this year, and Greiner appealed her sentence as unfair.
On the 25th, the Moscow State Court upheld her first-instance sentence of nine years in prison.
"This is an unprecedented and harsh ruling and we will consider all possible legal actions," Greiner's lawyer said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The U.S. government has objected to Greiner as ``unfair restraint,'' and President Biden has delivered a letter to Greiner, emphasizing that she will do her best to release her.
On the other hand, the Russian side claims that it is ``in accordance with the law and is not politically motivated,'' and it is expected that the conflict between the United States and Russia, which is worsening over the situation in Ukraine, will further deepen.