Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained on drug charges since Feb. 17, 2022. Now, a little over eight months after her detainment, Griner was sentenced to serve a nine-year prison sentence. This morning, she and her legal team faced yet another setback as her sentencing appeal was rejected in a Russian court.
The penal colony
As Griner’s lawyers and the American government continue to take advantage of any further efforts to bring the basketball star home, a raised concern is that of the penal colony. Although in Russia, penal colonies are usually reserved for those prisoners with lesser offenses, colonies mimic the poor, inhumane and dangerous conditions similar to concentration camps. The United States Department of State conducted a study last year on penal colonies; to name a few of its findings, Russian penal colonies demonstrated “…overcrowding, violence, torture… abuse.” Regarding her transfer, which could take weeks or months, there is no specific timeline for when Griner may be located in one of these colonies.
Moving forward
Does the rejection of her appeal today mean that Griner’s fate is sealed for the next eight years? Similar to the guilty plea during her sentencing in July, today’s verdict did not surprise Griner and her lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov. As ESPN’s T.J. Quinn reported, following this juncture, with the upcoming midterm elections in two weeks, negotiations and serious offers may potentially resume bringing Brittney Griner back to American soil.
What does today’s decision mean for Brittney Griner?
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) October 25, 2022
1. In one sense, not much. She was never going to win. If her lawyers appeal, she won’t win that either.
2. It sets in motion a transfer to a penal colony. She’s been in a Moscow jail, which is the better alternative. But… https://t.co/Gk7rJ4rOvX
5. The US made an offer in June and has not received what officials consider to be a serious counter. They expect Russia to truly engage in negotiations after the Nov. 8 midterm elections. Putin doesn’t want Biden/Dems to get a political victory.
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) October 25, 2022