U.S. Marines veteran Trevor Reed released from Russian prison in swap
U.S. Marines veteran Trevor Reed was released Wednesday in a prisoner swap with Russia nearly two years after he was convicted of assaulting a Moscow cop.
“Our family has been living a nightmare. Today, our prayers have been answered and Trevor is on his way back safely to the United States,” Reed’s family said in a statement.
Reed, a 30-year-old Texas native, was arrested in 2019 for assaulting a police officer after getting drunk at a party while visiting his girlfriend in Moscow and sentenced to nine years behind bars.
But Reed and his family have denied any wrongdoing, and the Marine vet had reportedly been in failing health as he approached his 1,000th day in custody. Last month, a spokesman for the family said Reed had tuberculosis and suffered a broken rib after “something fell” on him. When his captors refused to get him medical care, Reed went on a hunger strike, breaking it in early April after finally being provided treatment.
“Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly,” President Biden said in a statement. “Trevor, a former U.S. Marine, is free from Russian detention. I heard in the voices of Trevor’s parents how much they’ve worried about his health and missed his presence. And I was delighted to be able to share with them the good news about Trevor’s freedom.”
In exchange, the U.S. freed Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in Connecticut for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S., according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The White House has not confirmed Yaroshenko’s release, but the Bureau of Prisons website has him listed as “not in custody.”
Last month, Reed’s parents, Joey and Paula Reed, protested outside the White House until Biden finally met with them.
“During their meeting, the president reiterated his commitment to continue to work to secure the release of Trevor ... and other Americans wrongfully held in Russia and elsewhere, and to provide all possible assistance until they and others are free and returned home to their families who are advocating so passionately for their release,” press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time.
