Brittney Griner, a professional basketball player, shared her harrowing experience in a Russian prison on a 20/20 interview with Robin Roberts. Griner was detained in a 7×7 cell with unsanitary conditions after THC was found in her luggage at a Russian airport. She described being forced to use her own clothing to clean herself and feeling less than human in these conditions. Griner was later transferred to a group cell, where she encountered a knife left behind by a guard and slept on a mattress with a blood stain. Despite the poor conditions, she persevered and ultimately decided to push forward for the sake of her loved ones.
During her time in prison, Griner faced a lack of basic necessities such as toiletries and sanitary food. The prisoners had to use expired toothpaste to kill mold on the walls and often went months without receiving toilet paper. Griner described the food as barely edible, with one meal consisting of thick porridge and another being a small piece of fish with bones. She also detailed how she had to cut off her dreadlocks because they kept freezing, highlighting the extreme measures she had to take to survive in the prison.
Griner recalled considering suicide in the first few weeks of confinement but ultimately decided to endure the hardships for the sake of her family. She described her final stop at a penal colony as a work camp with overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Griner revealed that before her release, she had to write a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for forgiveness in order to come home. Despite her reluctance, she knew it was necessary for her freedom.
In another segment of the interview, Griner reflected on the day she was detained and took responsibility for her mistake. She admitted to feeling like she had let everyone down and feared losing everything she had worked for. Griner was initially arrested in February 2022 while in Russia to play for a basketball team during her offseason. After pleading guilty to charges of smuggling hash oil cartridges, she was sentenced to nine years in prison. However, she was released in December 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange, thanks to the efforts of President Joe Biden and his administration.
Throughout Griner’s ordeal, her wife Cherelle advocated tirelessly for her release. The couple, who met in college and got married in 2019, are now expecting their first child together. Despite the challenges they faced, they remain hopeful and excited about the future. The outpouring of support from people across the country during this difficult time has been a source of strength for the couple. Cherelle’s unwavering support and advocacy played a significant role in securing Brittney’s release, and the couple is looking forward to welcoming their baby in the near future.
