WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has now been moved to a Russian Penal Colony, a move that came as a surprise to her legal team due to the speed of the process.
Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner, who nine months earlier was arrested by Russian authorities for possession of cannabis oil, has been moved to a Russian penal colony,. as announced by her Russian legal team early Wednesday in Moscow.
Her lawyers said the transfer began on Friday, a day after US embassy officials visited her and far ahead of the schedule they had anticipated after Griner's appeal was denied Oct. 25.
The transfer itself usually takes weeks or months to be processed which resulted in her attorneys and US officials not being aware of the move until Tuesday.
This means that her lawyers and family are clueless as to where she is or where she's heading, and might be kept in the dark for quite some time as, "Notification is given via official mail and normally takes up to two weeks to be received."
Griner’s transfer is one of the most feared outcomes after the trial as Russian penal colonies are known to have worse conditions than Moscow jails.
The White House released a statement early Wednesday morning condemning the move.
"Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in the statement.
"As the Administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the President has directed the Administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony," the statement continued.
Griner's last contact with anyone from outside the jail was Thursday, during the US embassy officials' visit and with her attorneys a day prior.
Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent, also released a statement on Tuesday night saying that they are utilizing all resources to track Brittney to ensure her safety and for her release.
"We are thankful for everyone's support, and hope that as we near nine months of detention, that BG and all wrongfully detained Americans will be shown mercy and returned home to their families for the holidays."
Tags:# WNBA, #Russia, #jail