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Brittney Griner seems to have become a scapegoat in the political battle between the US and Russia. The WNBA star is stuck in Russia for over nine months, currently serving a nine-year sentence in the IK-2 penal colony in Mordovia under drug possession charges. The State Department has offered a prisoner swap deal to secure Griner’s release. But, no fruitful results have come out of the negotiations so far. Recently, Jonathan Franks, who contributed to securing the release of former US marine Trevor Reed, revealed more hellish details about the conditions that Brittney Griner is facing inside the penal colony.

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Jonathan Franks is the president of a renowned public relations firm Lucid Strategies. Speaking from experience, Franks revealed some tough conditions that Brittney Griner is possibly dealing within Russian prison. Several reports have revealed the details of the inhumane conditions that the inmates face inside penal colonies. Recently, Franks shared some further insight on some spine-chilling details about the infamous penal colonies.

Franks details horrors Brittney Griner could face in penal colonies

Jonathan Franks shared that Griner is likely to be housed in filthy and crowded bunkers. He suggested that existence inside these dirty and unhealthy colonies was extremely difficult. Franks revealed that prisoners had to work all day and they are often offered rotten and rancid food.

READ MORE: Brittney Griner Could ?Profit Off? Russian Prison Sentence: WNBA Star

Moreover, Franks stated that the inmates are forced to perform harsh labor for up to 15-16 hours a day, working in charcoal or soap factories or other maintenance chores. After the day’s work, the prisoners gather in a communal dining hall where they are served improper food, resulting in malnutrition and other diseases.

Further, Jonathan Franks added, “They do provide some food, but, again, food so rotten that the cats wouldn’t eat it.”

Franks suggested that the quality of food served inside the penal colonies was so bad that even the cats would refrain from eating it. Thus, he pointed out that Brittney Griner would probably not be able to eat properly in such hellish conditions.

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Torture and ill-treatment a common practice inside penal colonies

Instances of torture are not uncommon in penal colonies. Failing to meet the quota results in solitary confinement, holding back food, and torture of other prisoners. Several cases of severe injuries while working on dangerous machines in sweatshops have also surfaced. Moreover, the medical facilities in penal colonies are extremely poor.

Thus, Griner is facing some hellish conditions inside the penal colony. After the lack of response from the Russian legal system, her only hope would be the prisoner swap deal.

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Meanwhile, the negotiations between the two countries continue through designated channels. Hopefully, Griner will find a way to return home soon.