“As a result of a long negotiation process”: Russia exchanged American Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko

Russia has exchanged American student Trevor Reid, convicted in the Russian Federation, for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, imprisoned in an American prison.

This was announced by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova in her Telegram channel.

“As a result of a lengthy negotiation process, on April 27, 2022, US citizen Trevor Rowdy 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 in 2010,” Zakharova wrote.

The exchange of Reed and Yaroshenko was also confirmed by US President Joe Biden.

Lawyer Konstantin Yaroshenko Alexei Tarasov told RT that the exchange of his client took place on the territory of a third country.

The negotiation process was lengthy, the lawyer called the result achieved a real miracle.

“This is a very difficult process, especially given the current geopolitical situation ... This is absolutely wonderful news, because Konstantin Yaroshenko was in prison for more than 12 years,” the lawyer added.

In turn, the wife of the Russian pilot, Victoria, told RT that the exchange took place in Turkey.

She added that she learned about the agreement a week ago.

“We were told about this a week ago by our lawyer.

That a petition for his deportation has been signed,” she said.

Victoria added that she was meeting her husband at the Moscow airport.

At the same time, the RIA Novosti agency reported that Trevor Reed flew to the United States from Vnukovo Airport - he was put on a plane under escort.

Human rights activist Ivan Melnikov commented on RT the choice of a third country for the exchange of citizens.

“At present, we do not have direct flights (with the USA. - 

), and, as far as I understand, the country should have been, so to speak, neutral ... Even if Yaroshenko had been released in the USA ... they have written in the law that they are required to send citizens on direct flights, we do not have direct flights at present.

He would have been placed in a deportation prison,” he said.

Maria Butina, a member of the State Duma commission to investigate the facts of interference of foreign states in the internal affairs of Russia, in a conversation with RT, called the exchange an achievement of Russian diplomacy.

“In the current conditions of outright Russophobia and international tension, I believe that the exchange of Konstantin Yaroshenko is an absolutely incredible achievement of our diplomacy, since very few people believed,” she said.

Butina also called it pointless to discuss whether this exchange is equivalent or not.

“The most important thing is that Konstantin will now be with his family, and without exaggeration we can say that his life was saved,” she added.

A lawyer, a specialist in civil and international law, Maria Yarmush, in an interview with RT, noted that the decision to exchange was the “best gift” for Yaroshenko’s family, relatives and many Russian citizens who watched his fate.

“This step can be welcomed... Finally, the US heard the call of the Russian Federation.

Through diplomatic channels, our competent authorities tried to influence the judicial system and the system of execution of criminal sentences in the United States and release our citizen, who for a long time languished in the dungeons of the Americans on trumped-up charges,” Yarmush emphasized.

She expressed hope that the next step would be the release of the Russian businessman Viktor Bout, convicted in the United States. 

Recall that Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in May 2010 in Liberia on charges of preparing to transport large quantities of drugs to the United States and extradited to the United States, where in September 2011 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

American student Trevor Reid was convicted in Russia in the summer of 2020 for assaulting police officers and sentenced to nine years in prison.

According to investigators, Reed attacked the police who tried to take him to the police station.

The American himself claimed that he did not remember anything about what happened.

In June 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was ready to arrange mutual extradition of criminals with the United States, but only if the United States also extradited convicted citizens of the Russian Federation.