Brittney Griner Update: WNBA Star Heading to Russian Penal Colony, But Her Lawyers Don’t Know Where She Is Now
Russia has now sent WNBA star and Olympic Gold medalist Brittney Griner to a remote penal colony, and her own lawyers have no idea where she exactly is Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Russia has now sent WNBA star and Olympic Gold medalist Brittney Griner to a remote penal colony, and her own lawyers have no idea where she exactly is.

The Phoenix Mercury star was previously sentenced to nine years in prison for vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in a Russian airport.

Griner and her Russian attorneys tried to appeal her sentence, which legal experts in Russia and abroad are saying are excessive. However, the appeals court upheld that sentence and thus sealed Griner's fate in a remote Russian penal colony.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Brittney Griner Lawyers React to Her Going to Penal Colony

According to Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Russia in a statement after Griner's lawyers admitted they do not know her exact location. He called her trial a "sham" and her sentencing "unjust."

"It is just another injustice on her ongoing unjust and wrongful detention," he said.

Blinken added that they expect Russian authorities to provide U.S. Embassy officials regular access to all U.S. citizens detained in Russia. These include Griner as well as former marine Paul Whelan.

Blinken said they are "ensuring the health and welfare of U.S. citizen detainees in Russia," and that it is a priority for them. He also added that they are continuing to "press for fair and transparent treatment for them all."

The Secretary of State also stated that their hearts go out to Griner and Whelan, their families, friends, and supporters. He assured them that they are working "relentlessly to bring them home."

Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, Griner's attorneys, have made separate statements and both have stated that they are now unsure of Griner's exact location, according to ESPN. They said that she was transferred from her previous detention center in Iksha on November 4 and was on her way to a penal colony.

The lawayers pointed out that Russian procedure stated that they and the U.S. Embassy should be notified upon her arrival at her destination.

"Notification is given via official mail and normally takes up to two weeks to be received," said the lawyers in a statement.

Grinner last spoke with her lawyers on November 2, according to reports.

Russia not Negotiating on Good Faith on Brittney Griner Case

According to Bleacher Report, the White House and State Department have been working hard to get Griner and Whelan home, but with little success. Despite this, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the government continues to work to bring both back home.

She also stated that there has been a "lack of good faith negotiation" from the Russian government since they offered a prisoner swap for Griner back in June.

"Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long," she told the press, and said that the president has directed the administration that her Russian captors must "improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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