WASHINGTON (AP) — WNBA star Brittney Griner has begun serving her nine-year sentence for drug possession at a Russian penal colony, her legal professionals and agent mentioned Thursday.
Griner was transferred to a penal colony in Mordovia, about 350 kilometers (210 miles) east of Moscow, after a Russian courtroom final month rejected her attraction of her sentence.
Her legal professionals mentioned they visited her earlier this week.
“Brittney is doing in addition to may very well be anticipated and attempting to remain robust as she adapts to a brand new atmosphere,” her legal professionals mentioned in an announcement.
The all-star middle with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold was detained in February when customs brokers mentioned they discovered vape canisters containing hashish oil in her baggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
At her trial, Griner admitted to having the canisters in her baggage however testified she packed them inadvertently in her haste to make her flight and had no prison intent. Her protection crew introduced written statements saying she had been prescribed hashish to deal with power ache.
She was convicted in August and sentenced to 9 years in jail.
The Biden administration has been attempting for months to barter the discharge of Griner and one other American jailed in Russia, Michigan company safety govt Paul Whelan, together with by a potential prisoner swap with Moscow. Whelan was additionally despatched to a penal colony in Mordovia after being convicted of espionage-related expenses in 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in jail.
President Joe Bideninstructed reporters final week that he hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin will probably be extra prepared to barter the discharge of Griner now that the U.S. midterm elections are over.
“My hope is that now that the election is over, that Mr. Putin will be capable to focus on with us and be prepared to speak extra significantly a few prisoner trade,” Biden mentioned.
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