Britney Griner faced the hardest conditions in Russia's IK-2 penal colony. Many ex-convicts share the horrors and trauma of life in Mordovia's notorious colony.
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Britney Griner trained on camera for the first time on Thursday since returning from 10 months of captivity in Russia, two days after officially re-signing with Phoenix Mercury. Griner attended his one-on-one training with his Mercury trainer Vanessa Nygaard and worked on his drills on various targets. Griner has spent several days training at the facility this past week as he prepares to start the season in May. The Suns had their longest workout in months on Thursday as Kevin Durant completed his first contact training session since he sprained his knee on Jan. 8 with the Brooklyn Nets. Suns and Mercury players shared seats, and Griner’s presence added to the excitement at the facility.
Suns center DeAndre Ayton said, “Just seeing her practicing and running around…it’s unreal.” You love what you love. Your heart is clear and everyone is happy.” Griner, 32, had one of the best years in her career in her final season playing in 2021. He averages 20.5 points, 1.9 blocks, 2.7 assists, a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game, and 2.4 offense. Griner returned to the United States in December after a dramatic prisoner swap, trading the United Arab Emirates WNBA star for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Since her return from Russia, Griner hasn’t been in the public eye except for appearances at her Super Bowl, her Phoenix Open, and her MLK Day event in Phoenix, where she lives. She skipped US basketball training camp earlier this month, but the organization has revealed she can spend all the time she needs to decide whether she wants to play in the US again.
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Britney Griner faced the hardest conditions in Russia’s IK-2 penal colony. Many ex-convicts share the horrors and trauma of life in Mordovia’s notorious colony. The remote area is about 300 miles southeast of Moscow. Additionally, Griner must endure inhumane conditions in a penal colony while the U.S. government works on a prisoner exchange agreement with Russia. Britney Griner feared forced labor, she could undergo a heinous assignment in a Russian prison colony. Britney Griner could have been subjected to slave-like conditions, according to former inmates and experts. She may have been held in a crowded barracks with other inmates. Also, the food provided by prison authorities is not enough for inmates. As a result, malnutrition is common in penal colonies.
In addition, the prisoner is forced to work up to 16-17 hours a day in sweatshops. Prisoners are assigned to sew Russian military and police uniforms. Britney Griner may now be facing all these injustices within IK-2. But there’s one more horrible job that could make her 2014 WNBA champion’s life miserable. Britney Griner was forced to work in dangerous conditions and could be seriously injured. The machines used by prisoners are very old and dangerous.
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