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Ex-Marine Trevor Reed in March 2020
Photo: TATYANA MAKEYEVA / REUTERS
Former US Army officer Trevor Reed was defeated in a Moscow court. The appellate court upheld a previous judgment on Monday evening, according to which Reed had to be imprisoned for nine years for allegedly attacking two police officers in 2019. They had taken Reed to a police station when he was found seriously drunk after a party. Reed has denied the allegations and stated that he can no longer remember the incident. He originally traveled to Moscow to visit his girlfriend and learn Russian.
Reed is one of two Americans currently in prison in Russia.
Reed's case had even occupied US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin recently.
During a joint conversation in Geneva, Biden had urged the release of Reed and the ex-marine, Paul Whelan, who had also been imprisoned.
According to the US, both are illegally detained.
In return, the United States has been holding two Russians prisoner for decades, and Moscow is pushing for their release.
They are the arms dealer Viktor But and the pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko.
Before Biden and Putin's summit, there had been speculation about an exchange of prisoners.
The US Ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, was also present at the trial of Reed's appeal. He then expressed regret that the appeals court failed to rectify this "terrible injustice". "The US government and I will continue to campaign for Trevor's release," Sullivan promised. After the meeting of heads of state last week and a temporary withdrawal, he himself returned to Moscow.
Reed was seriously ill with Covid-19 in May.
The US embassy later complained about a lack of access during Reed's hospital stay and accused the Russian side of blocking contact with the prisoner.
In the course of the appeal process, Sullivan was apparently able to speak to Reed.
“Given the circumstances, he's fine.
He's a remarkable and resilient young man, ”Sullivan said.
fek / AP / Reuters