WNBA star Brittney Griner was sent to a Mordovia prison colony this month to serve a nine-year narcotics sentence after being arrested in February with cannabis oil vape cartridges. Despite her dire situation, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr believes that her story should still be discussed constantly.
The four-time champion coach of the Warriors reportedly felt heartbroken that the Brittney Griner got caught up in a "political game." The US has maintained for a long time that Griner's detention in Russia is unjust.
No Serious Response From Russia
Though, since her incarceration early this year, discussions of a prospective prisoner swap have continued to arise. According to reports, Russia is seeking the release of imprisoned arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "Merchant of Death," in exchange for the Phoenix Mercury star.
Washington has expressed its willingness to engage in negotiations with Moscow, but the development toward an agreement on the Brittney Griner Russia issue has been lagging up to this moment.
So far, Russian officials have not given the United States a "serious" answer to any of the proposals a senior American diplomat said in remarks made public on Monday. The US and Russia are currently negotiating a deal to release imprisoned Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.
According to Russia's state-owned RIA news agency, US chargée d'affaires in Moscow Elizabeth Rood confirmed that negotiations were advancing through the "designated channel."
"The United States, as we have said, has put a significant proposal on the table. We have followed up on that proposal and we have proposed alternatives," she said. However, she added, the Russian Federation has not responded seriously to their recommendations, as per a Reuters report.
The White House in Washington has stated that talks with Russia are underway. The government is dedicated to bringing them home as soon as possible, said to national security spokesperson John Kirby.
Clutch Points reported that in an interview with Madeline Kenney of Bay Area News Group, Steve Kerr said he cannot picture Brittney Griner's suffering in a Russian prison. "It's hard to believe that this continues for her to just get sort of caught up as a pawn in a political game. That's devastating."
Steve Kerr also mentioned that, despite Griner's incomprehensible situation, there is a need to keep talking about her in the hope that she will return home someday.
Kerr con’t: “And we all think about her and talk about her situation and we're all hopeful that somehow we can bring her home but it's really unfathomable what she's what she's dealing with.” (2/2)
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) November 29, 2022
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Griner Possibly Facing Homophobia, Racism
What the US government will do to secure Brittney Griner's release remains unclear in light of recent administration claims that Russia is not engaging with them. The pressure on the authorities to accomplish something is unquestionably great.
Recent news said that Brittney Griner was moved to the Mordovia correctional colony, which is the most secure jail in Russia. In addition to working long hours for little pay, inmates in IK-2 are beaten, tortured, and dwell in deplorable, unhealthy conditions.
Yahoo! Entertainment reported that, according to a TMZ, the Phoenix Mercury baseball player will have to deal with things like "homophobia, racism, and 16-hour workdays." Dave Zirin of The Nation reports Mordovia's detainees are scarcely treated humanely. The sports journalist stated that medical supplies are scarce and convicts must sew guard uniforms, which Brittney Griner Russia likely is experiencing now.
