Brittney Griner Shares That She Thought About Killing Herself During Detainment In Russia

Brittney Griner has opened up about having thoughts about killing herself during the first few weeks of her lengthy stint in a Russian prison following her arrest in 2022.

Griner revealed her suicidal thoughts during a recent sitdown, her first lengthy one-on-one since being released from prison, with Robin Roberts and ABC.

"I wanted to take my life more than once in the first weeks," Griner told Roberts. "I felt like leaving here so badly."

She went on to explain that one of the reasons she decided against taking her own life was her fear that Russian authorities would not release her body to her family.

Griner was arrested on drug charges in February 2022, pleaded guilty to said charges in July and sentenced to nine years in Russian prison. Federal Security Service claimed she was carrying vape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in Russia, when she arrived in Moscow. 

She testified that her rights were never explained to her when she was detained at a Moscow airport. Griner also stated that Russian officials told her to sign documents without explaining what they said. She explained that she used a translation app on her phone to get a basic idea of what officials and papers said.

Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison before being released in a prisoner swap. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Griner pleaded guilty to the drug charges on July 7. When pleading guilty, she explained she "packed in a hurry." She was eventually released via prisoner swap in exchange for one of the most dangerous men alive, ‘The Merchant of Death’ in December 2022.

READ: Viktor Bout Reveals The Five Words He Said To Brittney Griner During Prisoner Exchange

Griner explained that before she was released, she was forced to write a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"They made me write this letter. It was in Russian," she said. "I had to ask for forgiveness and thanks from their so-called great leader. I didn’t want to do it, but at the same time I wanted to come home."

Griner went on to explain that she was disappointed that Paul Whelan, another American who has long-been detained in Russia, wasn't on the plane taking her home to the U.S. as part of the prisoner exchange.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).