Exactly one year ago today, Brittney Griner's 10-month detainment in Russia finally came to a close. Yet, it wasn't until now that we've been given a glimpse into Griner's life behind bars.
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An ESPN feature story released this morning shed some light on what Griner's experience inside Russia's prison system was truly like. According to the story, after Griner — who was flying back to Russia in order to return to her UMMC Ekaterinburg team and continue their EuroLeague season — was arrested at a Russian airport for carrying illegal cannabis oil in her luggage, she was initially transported to a holding cell that contained, "drunks and women who had been arrested for street crime".
Shortly thereafter, Griner was relocated to a jail cell with two roommates who spoke some English, and was given a few English-language books by Alexander Boykov, her impromptu Russian lawyer: a biography of Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee, a memoir by American Southern rock legend Gregg Allman, and a memoir by the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards; the last of which became Griner's favorite, and one she reread several times during her detainment.
While there was much concern in the US about how Griner would be treated in Russia's prison system — especially considering Russia President Vladimir Putin's attacks on LGBTQ+ rights — Griner apparently wasn't subject to widespread discrimination while detained.
"I think that she was treated really good all along the way by everyone, with some minor unpleasant exceptions," Boykov said. "Most of the people — guards, police, even the judges — although they didn't do her any good. But that's their job. They all had sympathy for Brittney, and they treated her as good as they could have."
One of the "minor unpleasant exceptions" Boykov alludes to was an "a—hole guard" who joked to Griner's cellmates, questioning her gender. "Other than that," he said, "I think 99% of the people were sympathetic towards her."
Yet, just because Griner received sympathy from most didn't mean her detainment was a cake walk. There are surely many more details about her 10 month Russian detainment that we aren't — and perhaps never will be — privy to.
Then again, with an ESPN Films documentary about Griner's harrowing 10 month detainment now set for production, there appears to be much more of this story coming soon.
For today, we can celebrate the one year anniversary of Griner's detainment coming to a close, and her finally being allowed to return home.
