Good Morning America’s own Robin Roberts sits down and gets an exclusive interview from Brittney Griner as she speaks out for the first time, after being released from a Russian prison. On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained at a Russian airport as she arrived in the country to play for Ekaterinburg. Officials claimed that her luggage contained vape cartridges with cannabis oil, a drug that was illegal in Russia.
After signing paperwork that she did not understand after being arrested, Brittney was charged and set for trial in July 2022, in which she plead guilty to smuggling illegal drugs with criminal intent. She was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. Two months later Griner was released in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison.
In the photo pictured above, Griner is being detained in Russia after authorities searched her bag.
On May 1st, 2024, you can tune in to Good Morning America, to hear in depth details of her experience and it will be set for release at a later date on Hulu.
