The whole thing with Brittney Griner seems messed up, and we can only hope things get better for her.
The latest ordeal is her seeming disappearance after she was transferred from a Russian prison. There were reports that she was put in a prison work camp and then transferred.
After that, her lawyers said she went missing for about two weeks without word from her or where she was sent.
Now, it seems that the WNBA star has finally been found. According to reports by Reuters, she is being held at the Female Penal Colony IK-2 in Yavas, near Mordovia and about 300 miles from Moscow.
“We are aware of the reports of her location and in frequent contact with Ms. Griner’s legal team, but the Russian Federation has still failed to provide any official notification for such a move of a U.S. citizen, which we strongly protest and disagree with,” principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
“Our mission in our embassy in Russia has continued to press for more information about her transfer and her specific current location. Following this sham trial and the unjust sentencing, the Russian Federation is transferring her from a prison to a remote penal colony.”
Mordovia is the region where another American, Paul Whelan, is serving a 16-year sentence in a different penal settlement after being convicted of espionage charges that he denies.
Asked about Griner’s case before the statement from the lawyers was issued, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports of her location, and in frequent contact with Ms. Griner’s legal team.
“However, the Russian Federation has still failed to provide any official notification for such a move of a U.S. citizen, which we strongly protest.”
It sounds crazy but that’s somewhat good news. Especially considering no one knew where she was for two weeks. Hopefully, they can work out something for her release.
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