Brittney Griner is currently in the position of appealing her sentence, but the facility where she’ll be detained has been described as ‘a penal colony known for its inhumane conditions’.
Brittney Griner has been sentenced to 9 years in prison.
She was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court.
Griner has been in Russian custody since being detained in February.
This came after the Russian Federal Customs Service found vape cartridges containing hashish oil, a marijuana concentrate, in her luggage.
In her final plea to the court, Griner said: “I never meant to hurt anybody.”
“I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population. I never meant to break any laws here. I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here.”
The Texas-born professional basketball player’s defense team has slammed the verdict…
The New York Times reported that they called it “absolutely unreasonable.”
They also said they they will “certainly file an appeal.”
Griner was also fined 1 million rubles (around $16,300) by the court.
The US government is apparently doing everything it can to get Griner home…
But its not only the government who is trying to help Griner…
Professional basketball player Kyrie Irving also called out President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to issue more information on the matter…
And his series of tweets have gone viral on the internet.
“What is truly happening with our Queen @brittneygriner @POTUS @VP?
“Please give us an Update,” he added.
And it’s not only Irving who has raised a voice out loud…
“Anyone that goes back to Russia to play is insane. Praying for BG man…this is breaking my heart seeing her right now 😔😔😔,” wrote WNBA star Lexie Brown.
Ex-NFL star Robert Griffin also expressed his opinion in favor of Brittney.
“BRING BRITTNEY GRINER HOME!!!” tweeted Griffin.
The NBA and WNBA released a joint statement too and according to TMZ it said: “Griner’s verdict and sentencing was unjustified and unfortunate,” but noted that the organization “will stop at nothing to make sure she comes home.”
But the support for Griner didn’t stop there…
Even Justin Bieber has let out how he feels about the matter.
“If anyone knows of anyway (sic) I can help please let me know,” Bieber wrote.
However, it was previously reported that the USA made a “very good offer” to bring Brittney back home.
And now, the facility that she faces incarceration in, has been revealed.
The prison has a reputation in Russia as one of the worst facilities in the country.
It’s called IK-14, and it does not look good.
It’s even been dubbed a ‘gulag labour camp’, according to Business Insider.
The report by Business Insider says the prison is situated in Russia’s central region of Mordovia.
And it’s just as bad as it sounds.
Covered by a blanket of snow, the dismal grey building is far worse than the typical prison you’d expect here in the U.S.
The building, surrounded by barbed wire, is said to be infested with rats, as well as various diseases, putting the prisoners at risk.
Former inmate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who’s a political activist, previously described staying there.
She claimed they had to work 17 hours a day, with 1 days off every 2 months.
Another former inmate, Gelena Alekseyeva, also went into detail about the colony.
“Mice lived with us. Rats lived with us in the industrial zone,” she told Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. “Before you went into the bathroom, you needed to knock — there were special poles for that. So that the rats would scatter.”
This does not look like a place anybody would like to stay.
Griner is still awaiting the results of her appeal.