WNBA star Brittney Griner opened up for the primary time about her harrowing monthslong detention in Russia and the “mistake” that acquired her sentenced to 9 years in jail in a particular version of “20/20” airing tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
“I might simply visualize all the pieces I labored so arduous for simply crumbling and going away,” Griner informed “GMA” co-anchor Robin Roberts.
Griner, 33, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a nine-time WNBA All-Star who performs for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17, 2022, at Sheremetyevo Worldwide Airport in Khimki after she was accused of getting vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegitimate within the nation.
Prisoner in Russia: The Brittney Griner Interview with Robin Roberts.
ABC Photograph Illustration
Recounting the “psychological lapse” that led her to overlook the hashish oil cartridges in her baggage, Griner mentioned that she had woke up late on the morning she was despatched to journey to Russia to play throughout the WNBA’s low season and he or she packed whereas she was “in panic mode.”
“My packing at that second was simply throwing all my stuff in there and zipping it up and saying, ‘OK, I am prepared,’” she informed Roberts.
Griner, who displays on the expertise in “Coming Residence,” a memoir set to be launched on Could 7, recalled the sinking feeling she had when she realized that she had forgotten two hashish oil cartridges in her baggage after safety requested her to undergo her bag on the airport.
“I am similar to, ‘Oh, my God.’ Like, ‘How did I– how did I make this error?’” Griner mentioned.
“I might simply visualize all the pieces I labored so arduous for simply crumbling and going away.”
Brittney Griner speaks with Robin Roberts throughout an interview with ABC Information.
ABC Information
Griner was arrested and, after her trial was delayed for a number of months, she pleaded responsible to drug prices on July 7, 2022, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil had been in her baggage unintentionally. She testified that she had “no intention” of breaking Russian legislation and packed the cartridges by chance.
“You understand there are those that say, ‘Come on. How did you not know that you simply had cartridges in your baggage?’” Roberts requested.
“It is simply really easy to have a psychological lapse,” Griner mentioned.
“Granted, my psychological lapse was on a extra grand scale. However it would not take away from how that may occur,” she added.
The U.S. State Division categorized Griner as “wrongfully detained” in Could 2022, which allowed further assets to be utilized to her case because the Biden administration labored to safe her launch.
Griner mirrored on the poor residing situations in jail as she awaited her trial, saying that she didn’t at all times have rest room paper and that the toothpaste they gave her had expired about 15 years in the past.
“That toothpaste was expired,” she mentioned. “We used to place it on the black mildew to kill the mildew on the partitions.”
“The mattress had an enormous blood stain on it, and so they provide you with these skinny two sheets,” she added. “So that you’re mainly laying on bars.”
Brittney Griner speaks with Robin Roberts throughout an interview with ABC Information.
ABC Information
Griner was sentenced to 9 years in jail on Aug. 4, 2022, and a decide denied in October 2022 an attraction filed by Griner’s attorneys.
After her sentencing, Griner was transferred to a penal colony within the Russian area of Mordovia – a piece camp the place Griner’s job was reducing material for Russian navy uniforms.
“What had been the situations like there?” Roberts requested.
“Actually chilly,” Griner mentioned. “It’s a piece camp. You go there to work … there isn’t any relaxation.”
Griner mentioned that the frigid temperatures had been impacting her well being and led her to cut off her lengthy dreadlocks.
“What was that like shedding that a part of you, too?” Roberts requested Griner.
“Truthfully, it simply needed to occur. We had spiders above my mattress — making nests,” she mentioned.
“My dreads began to freeze,” she added. “They might simply keep moist and chilly and I used to be getting sick. You have gotta do what you have gotta do to outlive.”
Throughout her detention prime athletes and Griner’s household, together with her spouse Cherelle Griner, had been outspoken advocates for her launch and constantly known as on the Biden White Home to intervene and produce her residence.
Brittney Griner stands inside a defendants’ cage throughout the studying of the court docket’s verdict in Khimki, Russia, Aug. 4, 2022.
Evgenia Novozhenina/POOL through Reuters
Amid mounting stress on the White Home to safe her freedom, Griner was launched on Dec. 8, 2022, after the U.S. agreed to swap her for convicted Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout.
“You mentioned that you simply felt that you simply let down your self, your loved ones, your groups … how did you’re employed by means of that?” Roberts requested.
“I do not assume I’ve actually gotten by means of all the best way,” Griner mentioned. “On the finish of the day, it is my fault. And I let everyone down.”
Griner mirrored on the second she discovered that she was going to be launched, saying, “I used to be so thrilled,” however she added that she was disillusioned that Paul Whelan – one other American wrongfully detained in Russia – was left behind.
“I used to be like … are you critically not gonna let this man come residence proper now?” Griner mentioned of Whelan, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian jail.
Brittney Griner speaks with Robin Roberts throughout an interview with ABC Information.
ABC Information
Since her launch, Griner has turn out to be an outspoken advocate for Individuals wrongfully detained overseas.
In a heartfelt Instagram submit on Dec. 16, 2022, the place she thanked those that advocated for her launch, Griner vowed “to do no matter I can to assist” deliver residence different Individuals wrongfully detained overseas.
“President Biden, you introduced me residence and I do know you might be dedicated to bringing Paul Whelan and all Individuals residence, too,” Griner wrote. “I’ll use my platform to do no matter I can that can assist you. I additionally encourage everybody that performed a component in bringing me residence to proceed their efforts to deliver all Individuals residence. Each household deserves to be entire.”
ABC Information’ Eboni Griffin, Joseph Diaz, Gail Deutsch, Susan Welsh, Netsanet Negussie, Kaitlin Amoroso, Danielle Genet and Chris Donovan contributed to this report.