Fresno woman returns to California after spending a year in a Russian prison

In 2021, Krivanek moved to Russia for the purpose of teaching English.

Four years later, when Sarah tried to return home, the Russian authorities did not allow her and she was charged with violating the terms of her related bail with a prior domestic violence dispute.

After his imprisonment or, Krivanek was sent in November of 2021 to a facility in Mordovia, in Central Russia, where she was discovered by a Russian human rights activist who was in that prison to assist in the release of Brittney Griner.

“He went through hell because he had nothing. She had absolutely nothing until we found her months later, and she only went for People magazine. Juliet Butler, a reporter, was by my side the whole time, and it was through her contacts,” said Anita Martínez, who knew Sarah Krivanek more than 60 years when they worked together in Fresno.

Martínez assured that

Had it not been for attention to the Griner case, Sarah would most likely have remained in Russia indefinitely .

In the Russian prison, Sarah had no contact with Griner, but last week she wrote him a letter. Unfortunately, he did not have enough time to send him the letter.

Back home and in full recovery, Sarah stated that she will need time before she is ready and prepared to talk about her experience.

“I feel overwhelmed and exhausted, I’m happy to be home and I’ll be ready to talk. For now, I just want to get home, take a shower, and relax. I don’t feel well, so I will need medical attention,” Krivanek said in a statement to KFSN-TV in Fresno.

One wish Sarah had upon her return to California was to be able to enjoy Mexican food with her friend Anita Martínez.

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