Russia recently released Brittney Griner in exchange for Viktor Bout. After her return to the country, many fans and celebrities celebrated her release. However, she was not the only person to return home. Sarah Krivanek who spent over a year in Russian captivity returned as well. Krivanek moved to Russia five years ago to teach English in Russian private schools. She lost her job in 2021 and was living with an abusive boyfriend. One night, she reportedly tried to protect herself with a knife during a fight with her boyfriend.

The boyfriend called the police, and she was arrested. Even though her boyfriend told the court that he would drop the charges, she was sent to prison.

Sarah Krivanek opened up about the brutal conditions in prison

Sarah Krivanek was then released on bail after agreeing that she would not leave Moscow until her next trial. Unfortunately, she had nowhere else to go and went back to live with her ex-boyfriend who abused her again months after she was released. After she sought help, the staff from the American Embassy bought her a plane ticket back to the country. However, while she was at the airport, she was detained. She was reportedly locked up in the same penal colony as Brittney Griner.

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She recently opened up about the horrors she faced in prison. “I was punished very harshly, I was assaulted,” said Krivanek. “I said in Russian ‘Voz’mite menya’ and that means ‘to take me.’ I asked God, ‘I’m tired, I can’t do this anymore, I’m alone and nobody had found me.”

She added that the penal colonies could destroy one both physically and psychologically. She also talked about the poor food provided in the prison. A human right activist found her when he was trying to help Griner. Krivanek was released on November 7 and was sent to a holding cell.

She was reportedly not considered “wrongfully detained” so she did not get access to the same services. She had to take a loan from the government along with the human right activist and strangers to pay for the plane home.

Brittney Griner returns to the States

Brittney Griner was first detained in February for carrying small amounts of cannabis oil. After a few hearings, she was sentenced to nine years in prison. The sentencing outraged Griner’s fans and celebrities who voiced their support. They urged the government to bring her back home as soon as possible.

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The government considered her “wrongfully detained” and was in a continuous engagement with Russian officials to bring her back. After she landed, she was taken to an army hospital for evaluation. As per reports, Griner is looking good physically. She is yet to open up about the brutal conditions of the penal colony.