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Having Spoken Just Twice Since Imprisonment, Wife Cherelle Shares the Pain and Fear of Brittney Griner Moving to ‘Labor Camp’

Published 10/09/2022, 3:00 PM EDT

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Since February of this year, Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner is in exile in Russia. Griner is all alone in Russia while her family prays for her swift release. Recently, her wife Cherelle Griner revealed that she had spoken to her just twice on phone since her detention. Cherelle shared that Brittney is going through the toughest phase of her life. Currently, she lives in fear of being moved to a Russian ‘labor camp.’

Cherelle recently disclosed the details of her two phone conversations with Griner during an interview with CBS Mornings on October 6. Griner’s wife stated that she found relief in BG’s voice during their first phone call since her imprisonment. 

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Brittney Griner is in a tough mental state

Cherelle admitted that Griner sounded exhausted and afraid during their second conversation, leaving her crying for ‘two, three days straight.’ Furthermore, she reckoned that it was one of the most disturbing calls she had ever experienced. 

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While Cherelle refrained from revealing the details of the second call, she suggested that Brittney Griner was in her lowest emotional state.

Cherelle Griner admitted that the WNBA star is going through a difficult mental phase in her imprisonment. Hopefully, Griner will continue to fight like she has all her life.

Griner could end up in a ‘Labor Camp’

Brittney Griner was detained over eight months ago at a Moscow Airport. She flew to Russia to play for the UMMC Ekaterinburg team during the WNBA offseason. The Russian authorities found vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil in her luggage. Soon after, the eight-time WNBA All-Star was taken into custody under drug possession and smuggling charges. The court hearing started in July after months of detainment.

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Eventually, BG pleaded guilty to drug possession and smuggling charges. However, the 31-year-old claimed that she carried the vape cartridges inadvertently while packing her luggage in a hurry. Her lawyer Maria Blagovolina also presented a US doctor’s report establishing the medical purpose of the seized drugs. The attorney claimed that Griner had been prescribed cannabis for the treatment of pain. Following the testimony of her UMMC teammates, BG was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Meanwhile, Griner has applied for an appeal on her case.  A Russian court scheduled the appeal hearing for October 25. In the meantime, Cherelle Griner has pointed out that BG fears a worse situation is coming her way. She stated, “Once that hearing is held, and the order is finalized, BG’s now in a position where she could be moved to a labor camp.”

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Watch This Story: WNBA star Brittney Griner’s saga in Russia: The entire timeline

Unfortunately, things are getting trickier for the 2014 WNBA champion. While the Biden Administration is doing all it can to bring Griner home, she could face unimaginable hardship in a foreign penitentiary.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

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Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
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