Ex-U.S. Marine’s parents urge Biden to push for jailed son’s freedom at Putin talks

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MOSCOW (Reuters) – The parents of Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine held in a Russian jail, urged President Joe Biden on Monday to increase their son’s case with Russian President Vladimir Putin at digital talks to push for his freedom.

Biden and Putin are due to converse by video convention on Tuesday with Ukraine sure to dominate the agenda as a Russian troop buildup has fuelled issues of a doable assault. Moscow denies any such plan.

Ahead of the talks, Reed’s parents Joey and Paula mentioned they feared a significant escalation over Ukraine might deal a setback to their 30-year-old son’s possibilities of getting launched.

“We want president Biden to do no matter it takes to convey our son house earlier than it is too late. We don’t desire Trevor … left behind,” they mentioned in an announcement to Reuters.

Reed, from Texas, was sentenced to 9 years in jail final yr after being discovered responsible of endangering the lives of two policemen in Moscow whereas drunk on a go to in 2019. He denied the costs and the United States known as his trial a “theatre of the absurd”.

He and Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia on spying costs he denied, have been touted as doable candidates for a prisoner swap with the United States.

Russian media have touted Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot serving 20 years for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, and Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year jail sentence, as doable candidates for a swap.

“He (Reed) wants his president to convey him and Paul Whelan house and he wants elected officers to assist the president in doing what it takes to make that occur,” the assertion from the parents mentioned.

Reed and Whelan are on a protracted record of contentious points between Putin and Biden.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Alison Williams)



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