Not ranking on, or attacking you, just a difference of opinion...........
This was a very simple, straightforward situation. She took conscious actions that were in violation of Russia's existing drug laws. She got busted for it, went to trial, was convicted and sentenced.
I have no idea whether or not she knew she was breaking the law, but if it were you or me in her position, do you think we'd be given a pass because "we didn't know" ? Seems pretty apparent that the answer was and is "no".
Maybe she did know, but was stupid/arrogant enough to think she could get away with it due to her celebrity status. In that case, I REALLY have no sympathy for her. She would have had to have seriously mis-read the playing field.
If you look past all the whiney liberals catterwolling about this, it sure looks to me like justice was served.
Besides, how dumb do you have to be to go to a country like Russia and get caught up in the drug trade ? All the while knowing that your celebrity status places you under greater scrutiny and the possibility of being busted for something and being used as a political pawn ? Situational Awareness was not just lacking, it was nowhere to be found.
Besides, she'll do somewhere between 6 months and 2 years and will be part of a future "prisoner/spy swap". She ain't gonna be there for 9 years. Life isn't going to be fun for her in the near term, but, don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No sympathy/no refunds. And, I suspect that when she comes back to the good 'ole US of A, she'll be trashing it just like did before she left.