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  4. Brittney Griner fears facing inhumane treatment at Russia's penal colonies, where abuse is common, disease is rampant, and labor is forced

Brittney Griner fears facing inhumane treatment at Russia's penal colonies, where abuse is common, disease is rampant, and labor is forced

Meredith Cash   

Brittney Griner fears facing inhumane treatment at Russia's penal colonies, where abuse is common, disease is rampant, and labor is forced
Brittney Griner is escorted from the court room following her Russian trial.Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/Reuters

Brittney Griner is one of the most accomplished basketball players on the planet.

Brittney Griner is one of the most accomplished basketball players on the planet.
REUTERS/Brian Snyder

A 6-foot-9 superstar for the Phoenix Mercury, Griner is an eight-time WNBA All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, a two-time defensive player of the year, and a WNBA champion.

A 6-foot-9 superstar for the Phoenix Mercury, Griner is an eight-time WNBA All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, a two-time defensive player of the year, and a WNBA champion.
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

She's also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

She
Brittney Griner.      AP Photo/Eric Gay

When she's not competing in the WNBA or for Team USA, Griner takes her talents overseas to supplement her income.

When she
REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Each year since 2014 — just her second out of college — Griner has headed to Russia to compete for the European powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Each year since 2014 — just her second out of college — Griner has headed to Russia to compete for the European powerhouse UMMC Ekaterinburg.
BSR Agency/Getty Images

The 2021-22 WNBA off-season was no exception; Griner was on her way to Ekaterinburg, in the Ural region, in February when she was stopped at a Moscow airport.

The 2021-22 WNBA off-season was no exception; Griner was on her way to Ekaterinburg, in the Ural region, in February when she was stopped at a Moscow airport.
REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool

Russian customs agents found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in the WNBA star's luggage and subsequently detained her.

Russian customs agents found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in the WNBA star
Dmitry Serebryakov/AP Photo

Nearly six months later, Griner was convicted of drug smuggling "with criminal intent" and sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.

Nearly six months later, Griner was convicted of drug smuggling "with criminal intent" and sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.
Griner.      AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Her legal team subsequently appealed the decision, but the move is unlikely to free her or even reduce her sentence.

Her legal team subsequently appealed the decision, but the move is unlikely to free her or even reduce her sentence.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/Reuters

Unless she's released in a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, Griner will almost certainly spend some time at a Russian penal colony.

Unless she
Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool via REUTERS

Russian penal colonies are prison-labor camps that are essentially the remnants of the Soviet Union's infamous Gulag system.

Russian penal colonies are prison-labor camps that are essentially the remnants of the Soviet Union
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Griner will likely report to one of the 35 or so all-women penal colonies in the country.

Griner will likely report to one of the 35 or so all-women penal colonies in the country.
Griner.      AP

Source: People

Each facility varies in its reputation and treatment of inmates based on its geographic location and leadership structure.

Each facility varies in its reputation and treatment of inmates based on its geographic location and leadership structure.
AP Photo/Yuri Tutov

Some, like prison colony No. 14 in Mordovia, are notoriously brutal.

Some, like prison colony No. 14 in Mordovia, are notoriously brutal.
MAXIM MARMUR/AFP via Getty Images

Inmates there have been said to live among rats, lose fingers while working 17-hour days at sewing machines, and be forced to watch guards burn kittens alive.

Inmates there have been said to live among rats, lose fingers while working 17-hour days at sewing machines, and be forced to watch guards burn kittens alive.
Reuters

While other facilities aren't known to be quite as harsh, there are several disturbing commonalities across the penal system.

While other facilities aren
REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

Dilapidated infrastructure has been known to limit access to running water and heat, especially in more remote locations.

Dilapidated infrastructure has been known to limit access to running water and heat, especially in more remote locations.
AP Photo/Laura Mills

Prisoner hygiene is often neglected as a result.

Prisoner hygiene is often neglected as a result.
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

The colonies are severely overcrowded, with most prisoners living in close quarters with about 50 other people.

The colonies are severely overcrowded, with most prisoners living in close quarters with about 50 other people.
AP Photo/Yuri Tutov

Source: People

Russian law dictates that each inmate have 20 square feet of personal space, but that standard — which is less than the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights — is often not met in Russian facilities.

Russian law dictates that each inmate have 20 square feet of personal space, but that standard — which is less than the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights — is often not met in Russian facilities.
LIFE.RU/Handout via REUTERS TV

Between prisoners' proximity to one another and a lack of basic hygiene, penal colonies in Russia are known as incubators for epidemics.

Between prisoners
AP Photo/Yuri Tutov

AIDS, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and other ailments run rampant.

AIDS, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and other ailments run rampant.
Russian Federal Penitentiary Service via AP

And women in the system are often denied medical care altogether — never mind proper medical care.

And women in the system are often denied medical care altogether — never mind proper medical care.
AP Photo/Vitaliy Timkiv

Source: Riddle

Despite criticism that the system resembled Joseph Stalin's Gulags, the Russian government reintroduced forced labor in 2016.

Despite criticism that the system resembled Joseph Stalin
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Source: VOA News

Most women cook, clean, or sew to fulfill this requirement.

Most women cook, clean, or sew to fulfill this requirement.
Vannessa Jimenez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Past inmates in all-female Russian penal colonies have said that "voluntary" overtime work is actually mandatory, with guards threatening retribution if they don't sign on to work extra.

Past inmates in all-female Russian penal colonies have said that "voluntary" overtime work is actually mandatory, with guards threatening retribution if they don
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Source: Riddle

As a result, some women are forced to work 16- or 17-hour days, with just four hours of sleep each night.

As a result, some women are forced to work 16- or 17-hour days, with just four hours of sleep each night.
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

Source: Riddle

Torture is not unheard of at these facilities.

Torture is not unheard of at these facilities.
REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

And when it comes to abuse, "even official statistics indicate that it is practiced on a mass scale," according to a commentary piece from the Centre for Eastern Studies.

And when it comes to abuse, "even official statistics indicate that it is practiced on a mass scale," according to a commentary piece from the Centre for Eastern Studies.
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin

But it's possible Griner will have a less harrowing experience — that is, if she winds up going to a penal colony at all.

But it
Dmitry Serebryakov/AP Photo

If Griner is "sent to a colony with a lenient governor" — as Ivan Melnikov, the vice president of the Russia department of the International Human Rights Defense Committee, told People — she may be allowed "to coach basketball in the daytime rather than being a seamstress."

If Griner is "sent to a colony with a lenient governor" — as Ivan Melnikov, the vice president of the Russia department of the International Human Rights Defense Committee, told People — she may be allowed "to coach basketball in the daytime rather than being a seamstress."
Brittney Griner (left) shoots over fellow WNBA All-Star A'ja Wilson.      AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Source: People

People also reported that such a move was not unprecedented, as Russian soccer players Aleksandr Kokorin and Pavel Mamayev coached prisoners during their sentences at a colony.

People also reported that such a move was not unprecedented, as Russian soccer players Aleksandr Kokorin and Pavel Mamayev coached prisoners during their sentences at a colony.
Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Source: People

Melnikov also told People that inmates typically received "half an hour to two hours a day" for free time, with which they can "chat with each other, read a book from the library, write letters home, play sports, play board games, and call friends and family."

Melnikov also told People that inmates typically received "half an hour to two hours a day" for free time, with which they can "chat with each other, read a book from the library, write letters home, play sports, play board games, and call friends and family."
Brittney (left) and Cherelle Griner.      Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Source: People

But even accounting for Griner's chance at relative normality inside the penal colony, her experience there will undoubtedly be challenging.

But even accounting for Griner
REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool

And, as her detention drags on, she's grown increasingly fearful of the "miserable or inhumane conditions" she could face if and when her appeal is denied, her lawyer told The New York Times.

And, as her detention drags on, she
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Griner's wife, Cherelle, publicly expressed concerns about Griner's seemingly deteriorating mental health after they shared an extremely "disturbing conversation" over the phone.

Griner
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Source: CBS News

But, unfortunately, all Cherelle, the Griner family, and those supporting the superstar can do now is hope that a prisoner swap between the US and Russia comes to fruition.

But, unfortunately, all Cherelle, the Griner family, and those supporting the superstar can do now is hope that a prisoner swap between the US and Russia comes to fruition.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool/Reuters

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