Amid the current tensions between Russia and the United States, the Russian government has now sent WNBA star and U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Brittney Griner to a penal colony in the Russian region of Mordovia. Her lawyers confirmed the news on Thursday.

Reuters, the first to break the news, reported that the basketball star was recently taken to a Female Penal Colony IK-2 in Yavas, which is approximately 300 miles southeast of Moscow.

According to CBS Sports, this penal colony is in the same region where former U.S. Marine and fellow high-profile Russia detainee Paul Whelan was also held. He was arrested in 2018 before being sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged the news and stated that they are already aware of the reports of her location. They also stated that they are in frequent contact with the detained basketball star's legal team.

Russia Did Not Notify U.S. Embassy in Moscow That Brittney Griner Was Moved

While the U.S. State Department is now aware of Griner's location, they are still protesting her transfer, as they were not notified of the move, which is in violation of international law.

"The Embassy has continued to press for more information about her transfer and current location," a U.S. State Department spokesperson stated.

The Associated Press reported that her lawyers visited Griner earlier this week. They stated that the former Olympian is "doing well" and could be expected and is also trying to stay strong as she tries to adjust to her new environment in a Russian penal colony.

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Brittney Griner pleaded guilty and admitted to having canisters containing cannabis oil during her trial, though told the court she had no criminal intent as she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight. She and her lawyers also provided written statements that she was prescribed cannabis to treat chronic pain.

However, the Russian court still found her guilty and still sentenced her to nine years in prison despite her evidence. She and her lawyers tried to appeal, but this, too, ended in failure. Her lawyers and the U.S. government criticized the sentence, calling it excessive.

Biden Administration Still Trying to Bring Brittney Griner Home

The American basketball star remains imprisoned in a Russian penal colony, but the Biden administration is still doing its best to negotiate for her and Paul Whelan's release.

President Biden recently told reporters that he hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin will be more willing to negotiate Griner and Whelan's release since the U.S. midterm elections are now over.

His administration has proposed a prisoner exchange to Moscow, but the Kremlin has still not budged, previously stating that "any contacts about possible exchanges can only be conducted in silence under a tight lid on any information."

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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