The American basketball star Brittney Griner was transferred to a Russian penal colony this week, a move that has left her family and legal team in the dark over her status and whereabouts.
The New York Times reported that Griner’s lawyers “said in a statement [on Wednesday] that her destination was unknown and that they expected to be notified through official mail, along with the U.S. Embassy, once she has arrived, a process that can take up to two weeks.”
Griner, 32, has been detained in Russia since February, when she was arrested at a Moscow airport on drug charges. Security officials found cannabis oil in her luggage, which Griner later said was an accident.
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court in August, a decision that was upheld last month when she was denied in her appeal.
Her transfer to a Russian penal colony marks another dark development for Griner, a star for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players ever.
According to the Times, penal colonies “are notorious for abusive treatment of inmates, overcrowding and harsh conditions.”
“Some prisoners are tortured, or beaten by fellow inmates. Some have to work 16-hour days. A few are forced to watch Russian propaganda on repeat,” the Times reported. “This is the world of the Russian penal colony, into which Brittney Griner is about to be inducted for a nine-year term after her sentencing on drug smuggling charges was upheld last month.”
The transfer also makes the already trying circumstances even more difficult for Griner’s friends and family back home.
“Prisoners are typically not allowed to communicate with the outside world for a week or two while they are moved, and lawyers and family members do not know where the inmates are going — learning which penal colony the sentence will be served in only once the prisoner arrives,” the Times said.
Griner’s ongoing detention, coming at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Russia, has turned into a diplomatic standoff.
The U.S. has sought a prisoner swap with Russia, which would secure the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, an American citizen who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since 2018.
In exchange, the U.S. would release Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States.
Russia has, thus far, resisted the offer.
U.S. embassy officials in Moscow met with Griner last week for the first time since she was detained.
“We are told she is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said last week following the meeting, as quoted by The New York Times.
“As we have said before, the U.S. government made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan,” Jean-Pierre added, as quoted by the Times. “I can also tell you that in the subsequent weeks, despite a lack of good faith negotiation by the Russians, the U.S. government has continued to follow up on that offer and propose alternative potential ways forward with Russians through all available channels.
President Joe Biden said in a news conference on Wednesday that, with the midterm elections in the United States now completed, he is hopeful that Russian President Vladmir Putin will return to the negotiating table.
“My hope is that now that the election is over, that Mr. Putin will be able to discuss with us and be willing to talk more seriously about a prisoner exchange,” Biden said, as quoted by ESPN.
It’s bullshit what’s happened to her for a dam pen. On the flip side we got 20,000 folks in federal prison for too much pot and another 10,000 or little more on federal probation. It’s ridiculous. Come on Biden do something real in the world for cannabis. Pardoning misdemeanors that affect almost no one and not one day in jail is a dog n pony show for votes.
A Penal Colony for a big penis.
Good. Maybe we don’t have to hear about her anymore.
I don’t believe she deserves to serve nine years in the Russian penal system. She suffered enough for this very minor, ignorant offense; I’d like to see her released now. That being said, let’s not forget the hypocrisy of her and her wife petitioning the American government after she refused to stand on the basketball court as the National Anthem was being played!
And let’s not forget that she was charged with domestic abuse against her first wife. She is not a good person. Comically, those people who called George Floyd a martyr are the same douchebags doing it now with Brittney Griner. Watching these dimwits worshipping the two scumbags is cringe.
it’s impossible to sympathize with this twat
Morphing arachnids using phylogenies for time travel animate the evolution and speciation using a phylogenetic tree. Brittney Griner would be the tree in this scenario. Fascinating.
I couldn’t care less about this clown. She’s a despicable person who deserves everything that’s coming her way including hard labor, deplorable living conditions, poor food and abusive guards. Good.
Some of you all, like Dan here, are just simple minded assholes
Actually Rich, Brittney Griner is the simple minded asshole in this here narrative.
Fuck that bitch
Wow Brad, did she do something to you? Do you know her personally? All of you haters on this thread are giving LDE.
Media- President Biden, a few months ago you said you were pursuing every possible avenue to free Brittney Griner. How has that been going sir?
Biden – Brian who?
Media – sir, the basketball player locked up in Russia
Biden- I like basketball
Joe Biden!!!!! lmao!!!
This abiding by ruskie law is just an excuse to be a prejudice ASSHOLE and it is surprising that supposed cannabis users on this comment site are like that.
*sniff sniff*. LOLOLOL
Screw that bitch!!!
The latest news (Nov 18) is that the Kremlin might consider a swap for this entitled, idiotic, ugly, wife-beating, America-hating turd for The Merchant If Death!! WTF!!!!!!
Do not do this deal Biden. Trading it for this Russian animal would be a disgrace to all Americans. Let it rot. Please, for the love of God Biden, do not make this deal. If you do, Putin wins and you will look like a weak little fool. Time to grow a pair old man.
Oh my God!! Say it ain’t so hamhands!! Why is this filthy disgusting piece of shit getting so much attention while poor Americans are locked up at home for similar offences? It just isn’t right, it isn’t fair and it isn’t the American way. Let that freak sit in that penal colony until her sentence is served or until others who were jailed before him are freed. Be a man Griner and take responsibility for your brainless actions you petulant, puss-filled pimple.
Don’t you dare fucking do this Biden you spineless jellyfish.
Please, don’t do this. It’s like trading a brand new Ferrari for a 1987 Ford Escort. For the apologists, the clueless the Warrens and the brain dead, Grinder is the Ford in this scenario. Abort. Abort. Abort.
I honestly had no idea who Brittney Griner was before her arrest last February. I honestly wish it would’ve stayed that way too. So sick of this chick. Honestly.
Sophie, I too had never previously heard of this person and I also wish I never had. What a shit stain of a human. What a waste of time and energy. Hopefully she enjoys Russia more than America, which she admittedly hates. Good luck loser.
What’s the problem??? Brittney Griner is getting TONS of Russian bush and living the lesbian dream. I mean, Russian pussy, come on!! Go team!!!!!!
she creeps me out I agree with the verdict
I wonder if she’s taking a knee. I mean, for the Russian guards that is.
black lesbian American, goes to Russia, bring a vape pen, filled with cannabis, gets nine years,
black lesbian American, sitting in the gulag, eating borscht, eating pussy and shedding tears,
black lesbian American, hates her country, hates her anthem, hates the flag, yes it’s true,
black lesbian American, does hard labor, sits in solitary, misses America, feeling blue.
Too bad for you.