Wednesday, April 27, 2022

IS THERE A SLIGHT THAW IN FROSTY US-RUSSIA RELATIONS?

Byn Ivan Nechepurenko
New York Times

The United States and Russia announced on Wednesday a prisoner swap that has freed Trevor R. Reed, a former Marine who was convicted on charges that his family said were bogus, an unexpected diplomatic breakthrough with tensions running high over the Ukraine war.

Mr. Reed, who was initially detained in August 2019, was released in exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot sentenced to a lengthy term in the United States on cocaine-trafficking charges.

“Trevor, a former U.S. Marine, is free from Russian detention,” President Biden said in a statement. “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.”

The agreement was the result of “lengthy negotiations,” according to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Reed’s family confirmed his release in a statement, saying that they would now concentrate on “the myriad of health issues brought on by the squalid conditions he was subjected to in his Russian gulag.”

A native of Texas, Mr. Reed traveled to Russia in May 2019 to visit his Russian girlfriend, whom he had met on a dating website, and to take language lessons. One week before his planned return to the United States, Mr. Reed went to a party at a park outside Moscow, where he drank extensive amounts of vodka.

Mr. Reed then got agitated, prompting his girlfriend and friends to call the police. Officers who arrived at the scene decided to take him to a police station, where Mr. Reed was interviewed by Russian security agents. Shortly after, he was accused of assaulting and endangering the lives of the two police officers who had driven him there.

After spending more than 11 months in a Russian jail, Mr. Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison, the first time that such a severe punishment had been applied for that type of crime, his lawyers said. At one point during a hearing, Mr. Reed said that the case against him was political and linked his troubles in Russia to his military affiliation.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

NO THAW...one American for one Russian...even trade. There is no love here.

Anonymous said...

Bernal, former la villa city manager (Pop 4000) great job as city manager in brownsville

Anonymous said...

Brownsville Police Chief Felix El Culero Sauceda Bernal former Motorcycle Officer.. ..
Oh wait Former La Porter High School Cheerleader....ummmm that's it...
Great job as Police Chief! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Anonymous said...

Washington Post Editorial Hails Biden As 'Tremendous Upgrade' From Trump

Biden is restoring “a sense of dignity and fairness” to the presidential pardon, the newspaper argued in a new editorial.

fact.


Anonymous said...

Plain and stupid marine for going to Russia, two been horny, three getting our country mix up for his stupidity.

Anonymous said...

If asshol** could fly browntown would be an airport fact c/s.

Anonymous said...

Free El Chapo we need more jale

Anonymous said...

THE ARENA BUILDERS, MADEIRA PROPERTIES.
ARE FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

Anonymous said...

Can't paint now we can't built? pinche elected officials, so all we can do here is vote and keep quiet?
THEY ALL NEED TO GO, WE NEED TO VOTE EVERYONE OF THESE PENDEJOS OUT OF OFFICE AND INVESTIAGE THEIR BANK ANNOUNTS....

Anonymous said...

April 27, 2022 at 7:52 PM

Wrong panzas its the fat city of harlinchon the main airport kkk city

rita