Brittney Griner?s Return to USA Might Come at the Cost of Another American: Reports

Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for around ten months now. Despite the efforts of the US State Department, her situation has not changed so far. In fact, her situation has possibly worsened in the last few months as she was recently moved to a Russian penal colony. A prisoner swap is said to be a viable way to bring her back. However, it might come at the cost of another American citizen.

The government has been trying to bring the WNBA superstar and a former marine Paul Whelan back home. While Griner has been detained since February, Whelan has been in captivity since 2018.

It was thought the prisoner swap deal would help bring both of them back to the country. President Joe Biden even met the families of both individuals a few months back and assured them about the efforts the country was taking to secure their freedom. However, as per recent reports, Russia wants a one-for-one swap. This could potentially put the country in a huge dilemma as to who should be brought back first.

The reported prisoner swap dilemma

Nick Schifrin, PBS NewsHour’s foreign affairs and defense correspondent, recently reported that the Russian government wants a one-for-one swap. He questioned how it would be possible to decide which American to bring back to the country. So if the government decides to bring back Brittney Griner first with a prisoner swap, it might be at the cost of Paul Whelan, or vice-versa.

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Ever since she was first detained, there have been cries to bring Griner back from a lot of celebrities and athletes. Many felt that the small amount of cannabis oil she possessed at the time of her arrest doesn’t warrant her nine-year sentence, which was upheld by a Russian court in October after Griner had appealed the sentence.

WNBA and NBA stars have voiced their support for the Phoenix Mercury player. The comments and support from various celebrities and figures have put huge pressure on the administration to do something. However, there have seemingly been no improvements so far.

Brittney Griner moved to the “land of prisons”

Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years after multiple hearings. Recently, she was reportedly moved to a penal colony where the conditions are thought to be brutal. As per multiple reports, the IK-2 penal colony is a labor camp that allegedly forces prisoners to hard labor for 16 hours a day. Also, the well-being of the prisoners is said to be of huge concern.

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The IK-2 penal colony is in Mordovia, which is known as the ‘land of prisons’ with 12 prisons. Notably, Paul Whelan is also in one of those prisons in Mordovia where he is currently serving a 16-year sentence.