Brittney Griner Transferred to Unknown Russian Penal Colony, White House Issues New Statement Condemning Her ‘Wrongful Detention’

WNBA player Brittney Griner has been reportedly transferred to a Russian penal colony after all of her appeals have been exhausted.

According to the reports, Griner’s lawyers have been kept in the dark about her exact location and weren’t notified immediately.

The transfer began on Friday, but her attorneys and U.S. officials were not aware she had been moved until Tuesday.

U.S. embassy officials had visited her on Thursday, so it was a surprise for her to be transferred the following day and far ahead of the schedule they had anticipated after Griner’s appeal was denied on Oct. 25.

Griner’s attorneys said that a transfer takes weeks or months so her family might not know where she is for some time

“Notification is given via official mail and normally takes up to two weeks to be received,” Griner’s attorneys explained.

The White House issued a new statement where it offered continued condemnation of Griner’s “wrongful detention.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement, “Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long.”

“As the Administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the President has directed the Administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony,” Jean-Pierre added.

Last-ditch Effort Falls Short As Brittney Griner Loses Appeal, Will Serve 9-Year Sentence Unless Biden Comes Through With a Prisoner Exchange