Brittney Griner sentence reactions: Fans comment on the WNBA star's punishment, “She really got caught in the crosshairs of global politics", "LeBron James would be home drinking months ago if it was him instead of her"

Brittney Griner is reportedly being transferred to a Russian penal colony. The WNBA star was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges back in August. Her legal team tried to appeal the sentencing last month, but failed.

According to her lawyers in Russia, the process of her transfer began on Friday and was only announced on Wednesday. The lawyers do not know Griner's current whereabouts or the penal colony where she'll be serving her nine-year sentence. Russia has an estimated 800 penal colonies where prisoners are forced into manual labor.

Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, released a statement asking for support. The 32-year-old star has been in Russian custody since Feb. 17. She was arrested for carrying vape cartridges that had less than a gram of hash oil, which is illegal in Russia.

"Our primary concern continues to be BG's health and well-being," Kagawa Colas said. "As we work through this very difficult phase of not knowing exactly where BG is or how she is doing, we ask for the public's support in continuing to write letters and express their love and care for her."

The United States government continues to negotiate with Russia about a potential prisoner swap. According to Jack Baer of Yahoo! Sports, the U.S. has reportedly offered Russian weapons dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for Griner and another American prisoner, Paul Whelan.

---

Fans react to Brittney Griner being sent to Russian penal colony

Cherelle Griner speaks at a rally held for Brittney Griner

With the news of Brittney Griner being moved to a Russian penal colony, fans reacted on Twitter. There were fans who offered prayers for the safety of the WNBA star. Griner's lawyers were unsure which penal colony she's being transferred to.

A few fans also thought that former US president Donald Trump could have helped Griner's release.

While others were offering up prayers, some fans were just plain brutal. Some pointed out that Griner broke Russian laws, while others thought that people would turn a blind eye if a regular Joe was in a Russian prison.

---

What's a Russian penal colony?

Russian penal colony (Photo: CNN)

Brittney Griner could be serving the rest of his nine-year sentence inside a Russian penal colony. But what is a Russian penal colony? Is it like the infamous gulag of the Soviet Union?

According to CNN, a Russian penal colony is a prison camp where inmates are in barracks and not cells. There are more than 800 penal colonies in Russia, wherein most facilities are old and overcrowded. Some of these prison camps are very strict and require inmates to work manual labor.

Penal colonies can also be a source of revenue for the Russian government. These camps could be used as manufacturing plants for food or clothes. Other camps can also be used for manufacturing construction materials or just plain construction work for the government.