According to a report from ESPN, WNBA Phoenix Mercury star center Brittney Griner has recently been transferred to a Russian penal colony.

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Two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star center Brittney Griner has been transferred to a Russian penal colony since last week Friday, per a report from ESPN. As of now, the exact location of the colony has not been revealed. 

The news follows after U.S Embassy officials paid her a visit in an attempt to free her. It also marks four months since the famed women’s basketball player has been incarcerated in Russia since first pleading guilty to smuggling hashish oil into Moscow in July. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the transfer “another injustice layered on her ongoing unjust and wrongful detention.”

Griner’s legal team had appealed her nine-year sentence, including discussions of a potential prisoner swap.

Griner’s lawyer informed CNN of this development. It came after the Russian government confirmed discussions about a potential prisoner swap involving a convicted Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

Bout’s attorney said they are “’confident” a prisoner swap with the US will happen. 

In response to reports that US officials sent proposals to Moscow on swapping Bout for Griner and Whelan, Aleksandr Darchiev, a high-ranking Russian diplomat, said: 

“This quite sensitive issue of the swap of convicted Russian and US citizens is being discussed through the channels defined by our Presidents. These individuals are, indeed, being discussed. The Russian side has long been seeking the release of Viktor Bout. The details should be left to professionals, proceeding from the ‘do not harm’ principle.”

In addition, a US State Department spokesperson said:

“As Secretary (of State Antony) Blinken said, ‘There was a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. We will not go into detail of what we proposed to the Russians.”

Alexander Boykov, Griner’s lawyer, said the verdict appeal and potential prisoner swap conversations would operate independently. 

“It should not affect them. This is part of legal process. Prisoner talks come through diplomatic channels. Since the appeal could be withdrawn any time before the actual hearing, there’s no reason for Russian government to wait.”

Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of drug possession in Russia.

She was also ordered to pay over $16,000 in fines by Judge Anna Sotnikikova.

After the judgment, US President Joe Biden and the WNBA and NBA commissioners, Cathy Englerment and Adam Silver, released a statement in response.

Additional reporting by Michael Omoruan.