Vladimir Putin, Brittney Griner | Laughing about the captivity in Russia: – I wanted to take my own life

Suicidal thoughts characterized Brittney Griner’s first weeks imprisoned in Russia. The basketball player says so in a TV interview.

For the first time, the American gives a deeper insight into what it was like to be in custody for many months in 2022. Only on the eve of the year was the 33-year-old released in a prisoner exchange.

– I wanted to take my own life more than once in the first weeks. I really wanted to get away from it, says Griner in an hour-long interview on ABC.

Fearing, among other things, that the Russian authorities would not hand over her body to her family, Griner decided to stay alive.

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Was convicted

The nightmare in Russia started when she was arrested at the airport in Moscow with cannabis oil for e-cigarettes in her luggage.

Before his release, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug trafficking.

She was arrested the same month that the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The war led to increased tension between Russia and the United States, and that did not make Griner’s situation any easier.

Wrote to Putin

Griner says that she had to write to Russian President Vladimir Putin to be set free.

– They forced me to write the letter. It was in Russian, and I had to ask for forgiveness and thank their so-called great leader. I didn’t want to, but at the same time I wanted to go home.

Last May, Griner made a comeback as a basketball player. She currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury.

(© NTB)