3 weeks ago
American Brittney Griner says she felt "less than human" during her clip successful a Russian prison.
The 33-year-old spent 10 months successful Russian custody for possessing cannabis lipid earlier being released successful a high-profile captive speech successful December 2022.
"When we locomotion into nan cell, there's a bathroom," Griner told American broadcaster ABC.
"There's a small rickety descend that leaks and past conscionable adhd a furniture of dust, dirt, grime, humor stains. Just filth.
"I had a mates of shirts, a mates of pairs of sweats, nan shoes connected my feet.
"One of my shirts, I ripped it up and I utilized 1 to cleanable myself. I utilized 1 arsenic my toilet paper. With my dirty, soiled spread successful nan crushed pinch feces each complete it.
"That was nan infinitesimal wherever I conscionable felt nan dirtiest and little than a human."
Griner had been playing successful nan Russian Premier League erstwhile she was arrested astatine a Moscow airdrome successful February 2022. She pleaded blameworthy to nan charges, was sentenced to 9 years successful situation and sent to a penal colony.
Her merchandise was granted aft nan US authorities struck a woody pinch Russia successful speech for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.
"My full bosom conscionable fell retired of my body," added Griner, reflecting connected her bags being searched astatine nan airport.
"Just this overpowering emotion of for illustration an elevator dropped from underneath my feet. I'm conscionable like, 'my life is complete correct here'."
She added: "I wanted to return my life much than erstwhile successful nan first weeks. I felt for illustration leaving present truthful badly."
The Phoenix Mercury subordinate has since vowed she would nary longer play overseas unless it was pinch nan United States nationalist team.
She besides said she was ordered to constitute a missive to Russian President Vladimir Putin during her ordeal.
"They made maine constitute this letter. It was successful Russian," she said.
"I had to inquire for forgiveness and acknowledgment from their alleged awesome leader. I didn't want to do it, but astatine nan aforesaid clip I wanted to travel home."
Griner, who is simply a two-time Olympic golden medallist, made her competitory return playing for Phoenix Mercury against nan Los Angeles Sparks successful May 2023.
If you person been affected by immoderate of nan issues raised successful this communicative you tin sojourn BBC Action Line.
