via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
via Getty
US WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives to a hearing at the Khimki Court, outside Moscow on June 27, 2022. – Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil, which could carry a 10-year prison sentence. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian court recently rejected the appeal of WNBA star, Brittney Griner. She was first arrested for carrying cannabis oil in February at an airport in Russia. Griner has been playing for the UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia since 2014. After multiple hearings where she pleaded guilty, she was given a nine-year sentence. This shocked the Phoenix Mercury Center, her family and fans. However, she was hopeful her situation could improve one way or the other. And she was looking forward to her appeal.
However, a Russian court rejected her appeal and upheld the initial nine-year sentence. This has come as a huge blow for the former WNBA champion. This could mean she might be transferred to a penal colony to serve her sentence. This is something that was earlier feared by many since the conditions in the penal colony might be worse.
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After the hearing, multiple reports suggested a prisoner swap is the only way she could be brought back home. But she is not top a priority for Russia at the moment as disclosed by a close aide of Russian President, Vladimir Putin. However, there might be something for Griner and her supporters to be hopeful about again.
A glimmer of hope for Brittney Griner
As per reports, Sarah Krivanek is a 46-year-old teacher who was arrested on November 11, 2021, in Russia. She was sentenced to one year and three months in a Russian penal colony for a domestic abuse incident with a Russian man in Moscow. But she was not confident she would survive until her release date on November 7 because of the bullying from inmates according to reports.
Now release #BrittneyGriner: https://t.co/gE99y91mEz
— Anushay Hossain (@AnushayHossain) October 28, 2022
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Also, she was unable to pay for her flight back to the country. So she feared she could be kept there indefinitely. However, she was informed a flight was booked for her to return to the country on November 8. But it is still unknown who paid for her tickets.
Furthermore, a prisoners’ rights organization called Russia Behind Bars lent a helping hand. Natalia Filimonova who works for the organization filed a formal complaint a few days ago. Then the conditions of Krivanek improved in prison.
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While the details about the bullying she faced in prison are unknown, there is still hope for Griner that the prisoners’ rights organization could help. Also, when Krivanek finally lands in the country, we might get to hear about the full extent of the conditions in the penal colony.
