American Prisoner Trevor Reed Released from Russia

Reed was returned in a prisoner swap.

Reed was returned in a prisoner swap.

Today, former United States Marine Trevor Reed was returned to US soil after spending three years in a Russian prison. Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison in Russia after allegedly assaulting a police officer on Russian soil, though both Reed and his family have contested these charges. Regardless, Reed has been returned to the US as part of a prisoner swap for Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted for drug smuggling in 2011.

“Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly. Trevor, a former US 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,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

“I’m going to try not to cry, because he doesn’t want me to cry,” Reed’s mother, Paula, told CNN. “Obviously, I’m going to cry a little bit, give him a big hug, and just, you know, give him hugs and it will be the four of us together again (for the first time) in a few years, so it’s going to be great.”

Biden administration officials have clarified that the swap will have no bearing on the US’ current policy regarding the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.