Russia releases former Marine Trevor Reed in surprise prisoner swap with U.S.


Former Marine and American citizen Trevor Reed has been released from Russian custody in a surprise prisoner swap between Russia and the U.S., The Associated Press reports Wednesday morning.
Russia traded Reed, who was arrested in the summer of 2019, for Konstantin Yaroshensko, a "convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America," AP writes. The deal arrived "as a result of a long negotiation process," said Mariza Sakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, per NBC News.
"Today, our prayers have been answered and Trevor is safely on his way back to the United States," Reed's family said. Reed will "tell his own story" when he is ready, they added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Following his arrest in 2019, Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison for allegedly assaulting a Russian officer after a night of drinking. Reed's family "maintained his innocence and the U.S. government described him as unjustly detained and expressed concern about his declining health," AP writes.
President Biden said in a statement he was "delighted" to share the news of Reed's freedom with his family.
"The negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly," Biden said. "We won't stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends."
Despite Reed's release, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, as well as WNBA star Britney Griner remain in Russian custody.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges
-
Germany lifts Kyiv missile limits as Trump, Putin spar
speed read Russia's biggest drone and missile attacks of the war prompted Trump to post that Putin 'has gone absolutely CRAZY!'
-
Tied Supreme Court blocks church charter school
speed read The court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to bar overtly religious public charter schools
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Judge scolds DOJ over Newark mayor arrest
speed read Ras Baraka was arrested during a May 9 surprise visit to a migrant detention facility
-
Trump lectures South Africa president on 'white genocide'
speed read Trump has cut off aid to South Africa over his demonstrably false genocide claims
-
Trump twists House GOP arms on megabill
speed read The bill will provide a $350 billion boost to military and anti-immigration spending and 'cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs'
-
Trump DOJ said to pay $5M to family of Jan. 6 rioter
speed read The US will pay a hefty sum to the family of Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot on January 6