Brittney Griner Recounts Harrowing Experience in RussianLabor Camp

WNBA star Brittney Griner has opened up about the harsh conditions and forced labor she endured during her 10-month detention at a notorious Russian penal colony. In her new memoir, "Coming Home," co-written with Michelle Burford and set to be released on May 7, Griner provides a harrowing account of her experience at the IK-2 labor camp in Mordovia, approximately 300 miles east of Moscow.

Why this matters: Griner's story sheds light on the deplorable conditions and human rights abuses faced by individuals wrongfully detained abroad, highlighting the need for greater international cooperation and advocacy for those unjustly imprisoned. Her experience also underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of American citizens detained overseas.

Griner, who was arrested at Moscow Airport on February 17, 2022, after vape cartridges with cannabis oil were found in her luggage, was convicted on drug charges and sentenced to nine years in prison. The US government maintained that she was "wrongfully detained." Griner describes the labor camp as "basically slave labor," with inmates working 10-, 12-, or 15-hour days in harsh conditions.

Standing out due to her 6 ft 9 in frame, brown skin, and dreadlocks, Griner faced additional challenges as she didn't speak Russian. She was assigned to live in a room with 20 other inmates, who stared at her when she entered. The prison had no hot water, forcing inmates to heat water in an electric kettle to shower. The communal restrooms were a "special hell," with a tiny, tiled stall behind a folding screen.

The harsh winter conditions took a toll on Griner's health, with her dreadlocks freezing when she washed her hair, causing her to get sick. Inmates were sent outside to exercise, even in the snow, and Griner started to think about making it through the winter. In late November, she decided to cut her hair off with the help of another inmate, after filling out an "application" requesting permission. "I showed her a picture of my nephew E.J., who had the short fade I wanted. I gestured for her to snip off the locs,"Griner recounts.

After months of negotiations with the Biden administration, Russian authorities released Griner on December 8, 2022, ending her ten-month ordeal. Griner's memoir, set to be released just five months after her return to the United States, promises to shed light on the deplorable conditions and human rights abuses she faced during her detention in Russia. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and injustices faced by individuals wrongfully detained abroad.

Key Takeaways

• WNBA star Brittney Griner details her 10-month detention in a Russian penal colony in her new memoir "Coming Home".
• Griner was forced to work 10-15 hour days in harsh conditions, calling it "basically slave labor".
• The prison had no hot water, and Griner's dreadlocks froze when she washed her hair, making her sick.
• Griner was released on December 8, 2022, after months of negotiations with the Biden administration.
• Her memoir sheds light on human rights abuses and the need for international cooperation to free wrongfully detained individuals.