The White House has recently released a major update on the condition of Brittney Griner in Russia. The WNBA star is incarcerated in the IK-2 penal colony, far away from Moscow. Amid the fears of inhumane conditions and forced labor, White House NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby spoke about BG during the White House press conference. Unfortunately, Kirby shared some scary details about Griner’s ‘physical health’ amid concerns about her ‘privacy’.
Recently, White House Correspondent, Gerren Keith Gaynor raised concerns over Brittney Griner being potentially exposed to forced labor conditions along with ‘homophobia and racism’. He asked Kirby if there were any updates about Griner’s physical and mental health. Gaynor also inquired if the White House had plans to set up another meeting with Russia regarding the negotiations for BG’s release.?
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White House offers concerning take on Brittney Griner
John Kirby assured that the negotiations between the two countries regarding the release of Griner and retired US marine Paul Whelan were ongoing. Moreover, Kirby stated that the US Authorities were doing their best to bring American citizens homes as soon as possible.?
Further, talking about Griner’s condition, Kirby said,?“On her condition, I think you can understand for privacy reasons, I’m not going to get into much detail about her physical health, I wouldn’t do that.”
Kirby refrained from revealing the physical conditions of Brittney Griner given their concerns about the WNBA star’s privacy. However, Kirby reassured that the White House was trying to get as much information as they can on her condition.
Griner’s stay in Mordovia could be brutal
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Brittney Griner is serving her sentence in the IK-2 facility of Mordovia, infamously known as the ‘land of prisons’. Mordovia is located 250 miles southeast of Moscow. The remote region has a number of penal colonies, including IK-17 where Whelan is being held. Moreover, the all-female IK-2 female colony is known for being homophobic and racist. Thus, BG’s stay in the penal colony could be extremely brutal.
Meanwhile, Pussy Riot’s founding member, Nadya Tolokonnikova revealed the horrors of penal colonies. She stated that inmates in penal colonies experience slave-like conditions in labor camps. Tolokonnikova spent nearly two years in the IK-14 facility in Mordovia. She shared that inmates are forced to work in sweatshops for 16-17 hours per day. Tolokonnikova warned that torture was common in penal colonies, and medical facilities were extremely poor.
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Sadly, every day that Griner spends in the penal colony would be extremely tough on her. Hence, there is a state of urgency in the country about Griner’s release.