Who is Sarah Krivanek? Woman jailed with Brittney Griner tried to evade arrest with help from US officials
The WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested earlier this year for carrying vape cartridges and is facing 10 years of imprisonment. The Russian human rights activist Yekaterina Kalugina visited a Moscow area detention center on April 4 to talk to Griner but came across another 'only' American woman currently confined in Russia. The activist said to 'People' that the WNBA star maintained a calm composure, but the 46-year-old American school teacher, Sarah Krivanek, seemed distraught. Krivanek is imprisoned in a pink-painted cell with six other women. She was detained on November 11, 2021, in a domestic dispute with her Russian partner, Mikhail Karavaev. According to a report by 'People,' Krivanek hugged Kalugina and said, "How have I ended up in here? It's all untrue. I'm a good person."
Krivanek then revealed to Kalugina that her boyfriend was drunk and hit her on November 11. She was trying to defend herself and so she grabbed a kitchen knife and lashed out at him, giving him a "little more than a scratch." Karavaev then called the police, and Krivanek was charged with the "intention to inflict slightly bodily harm" and "threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm", according to reports shared by Russian media. However, in court the next day, Krivanek clarified her actions stating that she was being defensive. Allegedly, her boyfriend also kicked and punched her, causing bruises on her arms and legs. Three of her fingers were also broken. Her injuries were confirmed by a medical expert on the day of her arrest.
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Later, Karavaev withdrew his complaint and apologized for hurting Krivanek. He also said that the harm caused was unintentional. "I never felt that my life was in danger. She was just angry that I was drinking vodka. I was the one at fault. I was still angry and drunk when the police interviewed me at the station and besides, they told me she wouldn't be charged," he said in court. After this, Krivanek was released on bail under the condition that she would not leave Moscow and would demonstrate good behavior. But soon after her release, Krivanek contacted the US Embassy for advice and was asked to leave Russia as soon as possible. Reportedly, the US Embassy was informed about her arrest by the authorities, but the officials denied the claim.
Krivanek's friend Anita Martinez said that the school teacher was in touch with the Embassy, trying to arrange funds for her "departure from Russia." "She was trying to do everything without him finding out," said Anita. Krivanek's Russian visa expired, but she was informed that visas would automatically extend due to the pandemic. She was escorted to the airport by an American diplomat on December 15. The State Department Official did not confirm the identity of the diplomat who accompanied her to the airport and said that it is not unusual for them to help citizens to travel back home.
Krivanek was carrying with her a letter that proved that she had received a $200 repatriation loan from the US Government to cover her expenses on her journey to the US. However, she could not board the plane. The Russian authorities took away her passport and she was then arrested for violating the conditions of her bail. Krivanek was on a video call with her friend when she got detained.
"I saw them take her. We were talking because she was getting ready to leave. She was excited but she said: 'I don't know, I'm worried,' and I said, 'Why?' And she said, 'Because they took my passport, and they haven't given it back to me. I'm worried they're not going to let me out.' And shortly thereafter they came and took her away," said Anita.