Russia Releases Jailed Former US Marine Trevor Reed In Exchange For Convicted Russian Drug Trafficker

The prisoner swap comes at a time of rising tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

Jailed former US Marine Trevor Reed in Russia (Source: AFP)

New Delhi: Russia on Wednesday replaced Trevor Reed, a former US Marine jailed for attacking police in Russia, in exchange for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.

The detainee trade comes during rising tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia's military activity in Ukraine.

"As a result of a lengthy negotiations process, on April 27, 2022, US citizen Trevor Reed, previously convicted in the Russian Federation, was exchanged for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an American court," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram.
 
Reed, a student and former Texas Marine, was sentenced by a Russian court in July 2020 to nine years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers while drunk.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken released the following statement on Reed's release.

"I am pleased to announce the release of U.S. citizen Trevor Reed, who was wrongfully detained in Russia. We extend our deep appreciation to our many allies and partners who helped us in this effort. I also wish to commend Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Ambassador Carstens, Ambassador John Sullivan, and others in our government who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. We welcome this important release, while continuing to call for the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan. We also remain committed to securing the freedom of all U.S. nationals wrongfully detained abroad."

Images released by Russian state TV showed Reed - dressed in all black and carrying a large backpack - carried on a plane to Moscow's Vnukovo airport by men in military uniform.

While being taken to a police station, he allegedly grabbed a police officer's hand, caused them to spin the car, and elbowed another officer in the stomach.
 
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying he did not remember anything about the incident. 

Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in 2010 for drug trafficking. He was then transferred to the United States, where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in September 2011.