WNBA Star Brittney Griner has begun her sentence at a Russian penal colony after her appeal got rejected. However, in the past week, the brutal living conditions of the Penal colonies have come to the light. A former inmate has thrown shade on what Griner has to face and how she might have to fend against other inmates.

Griner got arrested in February on the account of having illegal substances in her luggage. Notably, Griner is serving a 9-year sentence after being found guilty during her trial. She also appealed her verdict, hoping to get it reduced or overthrown. But even that wasn’t successful, and she now has begun her stay in the penal colonies.

The penal colonies have a reputation for being harsh and brutal. There have been several reports about the inhuman acts perpetrated there and Griner has to stay at this place for the foreseeable future.

Ex-inmate says Brittney Griner might have to fight her inmates

The conditions of the notorious penal colonies were given by a former inmate, Nadya Tolokonnikova. Notably, she was in prison for 2 years after her protest against Vladimir Putin. Nadya described the living conditions as very harsh and she warned Griner.

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She said that Griner is going to have a tough time as she does not know the Russian language. And she will find it difficult to obey the laws and she might not be able to protect herself. Griner will also have to work long hours on a daily basis and will have to be harassed by the prison authorities.

She also adds, ” They turn other prisoners against you. They will punish everyone else in penal colonies… Take away their warm clothing from them and they will tell them openly that it happened because of her. This all happened because of Brittney”

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This means that Griner may have to protect herself from other inmates, especially the aggressive ones. There have countless incidents of violence which have been reported and in some extreme cases, have led to death as well. Many experts say that the worst time for Griner will be in the penal colonies. Griner will have to be prepared for anything that comes her way.