Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia over a year ago for carrying hash oil vape cartridges in her luggage while going through Sheremetyevo Airport customs in Moscow. But this would lead the former two-time Olympian through the worst times of her life. Even though not much has been revealed about her time at the Russian Penal Colonies, a lot of past prisoners have not had good descriptions of them.
“I’m no stranger to hard times. You’re going to be faced with adversities throughout your life. This was a pretty big one.”
Brittney Griner spoke on her resilience in her first press conference since her release from a Russian prison.pic.twitter.com/3i2km3mCIT
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) April 27, 2023
The former WNBA Champion was taken to the Mordovia IK-12 Penal Colony, a place not known for its kindness towards prisoners. Prisoners would wake up early in the morning for breakfast and work throughout the day. They only received an hour in between for their afternoon supper. It was said that Brittney shared a dormitory with 100 other prisoners as well.
Griner probably faced a lot of problems during her time at the Mordovia IK-12 Penal Colony. Brittney Griner once told ESPN that all she did at times was carry bulks of material for sewing as she couldn’t sew because of the size of her hands.
How did Brittney Griner communicate while being imprisoned in Russia?
The world was concerned about her safety as Brittney Griner was arrested shortly after Russia waged the war on Ukraine. She was termed a political pawn. For several weeks, nobody could communicate with Griner while she was detained. The United States had trouble trying to get the Russians to connect them to her as well.
Even though she was a regular visitor in Russia, Griner may not have known how to speak the Russian language. It is said that she was only allowed to communicate with her lawyers via written letters. She was not allowed direct communication with her American representatives either.
The Phoenix Mercury legend had hundreds of emails sent to her from representatives, teammates, family members, and the United States administration as well. Her lawyers in Russia would print those emails and give them to her in bulk.
The WNBA star had handwritten responses given to the lawyers, or she would try to explain what she wanted to convey. Her lawyers would take that information and send an email on her behalf. However, in December, the Russians released her via a prisoner swap. Griner was returned to her homeland.