Russian penal colonies are recognized for his or her harsh circumstances, as prisoners are pressured to work.
American basketball participant Brittney Griner has been moved to a penal colony in Russia, her attorneys stated, after a court docket rejected her enchantment of a nine-year jail sentence for drug possession final month.
“Brittney was transferred from the detention centre in Iksha on the 4th November. She is now on her strategy to a penal colony. We shouldn't have any info on her actual present location or her ultimate vacation spot,” an announcement from her authorized crew stated on Wednesday.
Griner was arrested at Moscow’s airport for possessing banned vape cartridges containing hashish oil on February 17, every week earlier than Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.
The 2-time Olympic gold medallist pleaded responsible, saying she had made an “trustworthy mistake” by inadvertently packing them in haste.
Her defence crew offered written statements that she had been prescribed hashish to deal with ache.
On August 4, Griner was sentenced to 9 years in a penal colony for possessing and smuggling medication.
Griner’s attorneys say they have no idea her ultimate vacation spot however in keeping with Russian procedures, they and america embassy ought to be knowledgeable upon her arrival. It could actually take as much as two weeks to obtain the notification.
Penal colonies in Russia, the place prisoners are required to carry out work, are notorious for his or her harsh dwelling circumstances.
White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated: “Each minute that Brittney Griner should endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too lengthy.
“As we've got stated earlier than, the US authorities made a major supply to the Russians to resolve the present unacceptable and wrongful detentions of Americans.”
In late July, the Biden administration supplied a deal to trade prisoners with Russia to safe Griner’s launch. Russia has but to positively reply to the supply.
Washington had reportedly supplied to swap Griner and Paul Whelan – an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage – for Viktor Bout.
Nicknamed the “service provider of dying”, the Russian arms vendor is serving a 25-year sentence within the US.
In 2020, Whelan was convicted by Russia of spying and jailed for 16 years, an accusation he has denied. Washington has demanded his launch.
“Regardless of a scarcity of excellent religion negotiation by the Russians, the US authorities has continued to observe up on that supply and suggest different potential methods ahead with the Russians by all out there channels,” Jean-Pierre stated.
Biden’s nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan, in an earlier assertion, described Griner’s circumstances as “insupportable”.
On November 3, officers from the US embassy in Moscow met with imprisoned Griner, promising to maintain pushing for her launch.
In the meantime, Moscow and Kyiv have carried out a number of prisoner swaps throughout the warfare.
In October, 218 detainees, together with 108 Ukrainian girls, have been exchanged within the largest prisoner swap to this point.
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