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Geneva, Switzerland (CNN)
- The parents of a former US marine jailed in Russia are pleading with Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to reach an agreement to send him home.
Paula and Joey Reed hope that Wednesday's summit between the leaders will allow a resolution to almost two years after the arrest for their son, Trevor Reed.
"He is being held as a pawn to try to take advantage of concessions in a political dispute between our two countries in which he has no part, and it is time to let him return to Texas," the two wrote in a statement first obtained by CNN.
Former marine infant Trevor Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2020 in Russia for endangering the "life and health" of Russian police officers in an altercation after a night of drinking.
He and his family have denied the charges and the US ambassador to that country, John Sullivan, called the trial "theater of the absurd."
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Recently in prison, Reed contracted coronavirus and wrote to his family that he had been coughing, had pain in his lungs, high blood pressure and had lost weight.
The letter, dated June 7 and obtained exclusively by CNN, was handwritten in Russian, one of the conditions set by the prison system.
The marine's Russian fiancee, Lina Tsybulnik, translated it for her family.
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"Hello to my dear family," read the letter from the ex-marine.
Last week I received a letter from Lina.
It said, 'Trevor, how are you and where are you now?'
I responded immediately.
I have not received any other letters.
I do not know if they will receive this letter or not.
ANALYSIS |
Biden is about to face two relentless forces that could seriously hamper his presidency.
The ex-marine's requests from prison
The former marine continued talking about his covid-19 diagnosis and medical problems and asked to be sent toilet paper, water and meat.
He even asked if the US embassy in Russia and the State Department were aware of his case.
Reed was last able to call his parents on May 20.
The letter has raised their concern, they said in their statement.
"During his captivity, the Russian authorities have made efforts not to provide Trevor with basic medical care, and given that, the news that Trevor has pain in his lungs has us terribly concerned," Reed's parents wrote.
“For the past 3 weeks, we have respectfully asked, in vain, the Russian government to allow Trevor to call us and allow the embassy to visit him, and we would like to ask President Putin to allow us to speak to Trevor, reestablish his access to send and receive letters, and for the authorities to be completely transparent about any minimal care they provide, "they added.
The U.S. Embassy in Russia has also asked for more access to the former marine and his medical records.
Last Friday, Charge d'Affaires Bartle Gorman accused Russia of violating conventions.
"We insist that this blatant attempt to isolate Mr. Reed from both his family and his government cease immediately," he said in a statement.
Joey and Paula Reed believe their son has been attacked because of his military career, which they said included assignments to Navy barracks in Washington and Camp David under the Obama administration.
His duties included protecting then-Vice President Biden at Camp David, they said.
That post showed his character, his parents wrote.
Trevor is not a criminal and anyone who knows him would find that idea ridiculous.
He is an Eagle Scout who was selected to be an elite Presidential Guard in the Marines shortly after enlisting.
The plea of another ex-marine detained in Russia
Reed's family has spoken with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as have relatives of another former marine being held by Russia, Paul Whelan.
Whelan, jailed on espionage charges, told CNN in an exclusive call from his work camp in Mordovia earlier this month that he wanted Biden to "aggressively discuss and resolve" what he viewed as the detention of American citizens for political purposes. .
He was also able to record a voice message directly to Biden, which his family shared with CNN before the summit.
"President Biden: After 30 months of being unjustly detained by the Russian government, I implore you to put an end to this terrible case of hostage diplomacy," Whelan said in the recording.
“I am still innocent, no crime of espionage occurred.
The secret trial without evidence proves these facts, the kidnapping of an American tourist does not support ... Please take me home to my family and my dog Flora, where I belong.
Exclusive: Paul Whelan speaks from a Russian prison 3:21
Whelan considers himself a political hostage, a bargaining chip to be exchanged for a Russian prisoner in the United States like Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted of a drug trafficking conspiracy in 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, or Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed the "Dealer of Death," who was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2012.
Trevor Reed's parents also believe he is being detained as part of the broader disputes between Russia and the United States.
Trevor has followed the rules all his life.
He has not even received a traffic ticket, "they wrote in their emotional plea.
“We are very concerned about his health and well-being and we are pleading with Presidents Biden and Putin to fix something.
This has gone on too long.
- CNN's Jennifer Hansler contributed to this story.
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