Dramatic Video Footage Showing The Moment The US Swapped A Russian Drug Dealer For Jailed Ex-Marine Trevor Reed Has Been Likened To A Famed Cold War Prisoner Exchange On The So-called Bridge Of Spies
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| - | + | Dramatic video footage showing the moment the US swapped a Russian drug dealer for jailed ex-Marine Trevor Reed has been likened to a famed Cold War prisoner exchange on the so-called Bridge of Spies.<br>The clip was shot at a Turkish airport Wednesday, and saw Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko disembark an American private jet, accompanied by security personnel whose faces were pixelated.<br>He walked towards Russian officials waiting nearby with Reed, who was arrested in 2019 for an alleged assault on a Moscow cop his family insists was trumped-up. <br>Financial Times reporter Max Seddon, who was one of the people who shared the clip, said: 'Real bridge of spies Cold War vibes.'<br>Bridge of Spies was a 2015 movie starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance and tells the story of US officials' efforts to free Francis Gary Powers, a spy plane pilot shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960.<br>He was successfully-exchanged for KGB spy Rudolf Abel on the Glienecke Bridge, which connects Potsdam to Berlin in Germany. <br>In Wednesday's clip, Reed is seen stepping out of the plane with Russian officials as they make their way to the center of the runway, where American officials are waiting. <br>Reed is seen walking with an agent carrying two bags while Yaroshenko is seen carrying a single bag and what appeared to be a manila envelope. <br>As the Russian and American agents meet, the agent with the bags is seen escorting Reed directly to the American plane as Yaroshenko waits while the officials talk.<br>The Americans and Russians are then seen shaking hands before the U.S.<br><br>agents [http://istanbulclasse.com/ esenyurt escort] Reed to their plane. <br>Scroll down for video: <br> This is the moment former US Marine Trevor Reed was exchanged for convicted Russian drug dealer Konstantin Yaroshenko during a prisoner swap that took place at a Turkish airport on Wednesday <br> Dramatic video depicted the scene on Wednesday where U.S.<br><br>and Russian officials met on a runway in Turkey to conduct the swap between former Marine Trevor Reed, 30, and Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko (second on the staircase)<br> Yaroshenko (center), is seen being briefed by the agents just as the exchange gets underway<br> Reed had languished in a Russian prison since 2019 after he was accused of drunkenly grabbing an officer's arm as he was being arrested.<br><br>His family had been petitioning government officials for years to bring him home<br> In exchange for his release, the United States released Konstantin Yaroshenko (above), a smuggler serving 20-years in prison<br> As Reed (third from the left) stepped off the plane, U.S.<br><br>officials disembarked on the other side of the runway with Yaroshenko <br> Yaroshenko (second from the left) waited as American and Russian officials shook hands on the trade.<br><br>Another agent could be seen immediately escorting Reed to the American plane<br> Yaroshenko walked back to the Russian plane as Reed boarded the American plane to finally return home<br> The tense scene was reminiscent of the Steven Speilberg 2015 thriller Bridge of Spies (pictured), which depicted the Cold War prisoner exchange of U.S.<br><br>Air Force pilot Francis Gary Powers and KGB spy Rudolf Abel in Germany in 1962<br>Reed, of North Texas, was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven to a police station following a night of heavy drinking.<br>He was later sentenced to nine years in prison, though his family maintained his innocence - and the U.S.<br><br>government has described him as being unjustly detained.<br>Reed was finally released on Wednesday as part of a prisoner exchange, in which US officials agreed to return Yaroshenko, pilot serving at a Connecticut prison for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.<br>after he was arrested in Liberia in 2010 and extradited to the U.S.<br>The tense scene was reminiscent of the Steven Speilberg 2015 thriller Bridge of Spies, which depicted the Cold War prisoner exchange of U.S. Air Force pilot Francis Gary Powers and KGB spy Rudolf Abel in Germany in 1962. <br>Questions have already arisen about Trevor Reed's health after footage taken by Russian state media of a historic prisoner exchange showed [https://www.news24.com/news24/search?query=Russian%20forces Russian forces] in camouflage and neck garters escorting the 30-year-old out of a dark-colored van Wednesday morning.<br>They then led Reed by his arms to a private plane nearby as he held a large, dark duffel bag.<br>In the video, Reed appeared to be much thinner in the video than he was in photos taken before his arrest, with family members reporting that he recently underwent a hunger strike to protest being put in solitary confinement.<br>His parents, Joey and Paula, now say their 'prayers have been answered,' telling CNN New Day host Brianna Keilar: 'Obviously, we're ecstatic.'<br> Footage posted online showed the moment Russian forces escorted Reed out of a dark-colored van Wednesday morning<br> Reed was bundled up in a large black coat and carried his large black duffel bag, but looked thin after his family said he underwent a hunger strike<br> Reed was finally able to board a private plane back to the United States on Wednesday<br> more videos <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function(){<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-41', 'channelCarousel', {<br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>});<br>});<br>Joey and Paula Reed revealed that they first received a phone call from the State Department informing them of their son's imminent homecoming early Wednesday morning - and were actually on the phone with Trevor when the president called.<br>They said they were still expecting more information from the State Department about when they could see him again, but noted that he had been flown to Turkey from Moscow - where Joey Reed said officers walked him past Yaroshenko 'like you see in the movies.'<br>The Reeds also revealed in the interview that their son had been moved to another prison earlier this week in Moscow, and now 'sounds kind of subdued.'<br>He is being examined by a doctor on the plane - as his family fears he may have tuberculosis.<br><br>When they finally can see him again, Paula Reed said she is 'going to try not to cry,' and his father said he plans 'to hug him and not let him go.' <br>They are scheduled to once again meet with President Joe Biden, who told the couple that he would like to have them at the White House upon Trevor's return - to which Joey Reed said when that happens he and his wife would like to give the president a big hug.<br>Biden said he would give them a hug, in turn. <br>Trevor now plans to spend time reacclimating to American society before he re-enrolls in school in the fall, his parents said.<br> RELATED ARTICLES <br><br><br><br>Share this article<br>Share<br><br><br>Reed had been in Russia visiting his girlfriend and learning Russian at the time.<br><br>He is pictured in 2018 in Red Square in Moscow<br> Trevor reportedly was celebrating with his girlfriend, Alina Tsybulnik, and some of her co-workers the night he was arrested<br> more videos <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function(){<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-54', 'channelCarousel', {<br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>});<br>});<br>Reed's release comes after months of his parents petitioning the Biden administration, and even protesting outside the White House as Reed underwent his hunger strike.<br>They noted to the president that Reed had served in the Marine Presidential Guard during the Obama administration, protecting the then-president and the current president in his job capacity.<br>Finally, on Wednesday, the president announced that Reed was free from Russian detention - something he vowed to do for other Americans being held in Russian captivity. <br>'Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed, and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly,' the president announced.<br><br>'Trevor, a former U.S. Marine, is free from Russian detention.<br>'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.<br>'I'm grateful for the tireless and dedicated work of Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, U.S.<br><br>Ambassador to the Russian Federation John Sullivan, and many others across our government to ensure that Trevor came home safely. <br>'The negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly. <br>'His safe return is a testament to the priority my Administration places on bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad. <br>'We won't stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends,' the president said, referring to a Canadian-born American resident who was arrested in Russia in 2018 and was accused of spying.<br>Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted on Wednesday morning: 'I am pleased that after years of wrongful detention by the Russian government, Trevor Reed has finally been freed and reunited with his family.<br>'We thank our partners for their cooperation and help to free Trevor.' <br> Reed, left, served as a Marine Presidential Guard during the Obama administration<br> Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that Trevor Reed had been reunited with his family<br>Reed was arrested in the summer of 2019, when he was visiting his girlfriend, Alina Tsbulnik, and studying Russian to fulfill his foreign language requirement for college.<br><br>He was in the process of getting an International Studies degree at the University of North Texas at the time, reports.<br>But on August 16, just days before he was set to return home to the United States, Reed went out on the town in Moscow, and was arrested. <br>'On the night he was arrested, they were having a party for Lina, and some co-workers in her building,' Paula Reed previously told Spectrum News.<br><br>'They were toasting, lots of vodka, because they knew Trevor was leaving next week. So he became severely intoxicated.'<br>From there, she said, the friends got a ride home - but had to pull over once Reed became ill.<br>'Then they couldn't get him back in the car,' Paula Reed recounted.<br><br>'And one of the other people in the car called the police.'<br>Russian officials said he grabbed the arm of an officer, as he was being taken to the station to be booked, causing the vehicle to swerve and 'endangering the lives of officers.'<br>At the time, the U.S.<br><br>ambassador dismissed the allegation as 'preposterous' and noted that video evidence showed no swerving.<br>Reed's father then spent 14 months trying to get him out of jail - but in July 2020, he was convicted of endangering the lives of two policemen while drunk.<br>'According to our attorneys, basically every rule, every legal procedure that is supposed to be followed was essentially broken,' Joey Reed said.<br><br>'In Trevor's case more than they had ever seen.'<br> Reed was finally released back into American custody early Wednesday morning.<br><br>He is pictured in March 2020 standing inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow<br> The Reed family previously provided this undated photo of Trevor Reed with his mother Paula when he was still serving in the US Marines<br> more videos <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function(){<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-63', 'channelCarousel', {<br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>});<br>});<br>Ever since that trial, Reed has been serving time at a penal colony in Mordovia, where his family members have said his cell lacked a toilet and he never received any items brought to him by US ambassador John Sullivan.<br>There, his parents have said, Reed has been continuously punished for small things like not making his bed properly, according to ABC News.<br>'During the day, because the room has no real heating and there's cracks in the windows, you see your breath all day long.<br><br>He coils up on the floor next to a hot water pipe to stay warm and then he's given violations for laying on the floor during the daytime,' Joey Reed has said. <br>And in June 2021, Tsybulnik reported that he had contracted COVID-19 while in prison, and had to be brought to the hospital.<br>'We have no opportunity to pass medicines to him, and we also don't know what kind of aid he receives there,' she was quoted as saying to the Tass news agency, according to the <br>More recently, Reed went on a hunger strike to protest being placed in solitary confinement, after his parents said he caught tuberculosis behind bars and was denied 'meaningful medical care' for that and a broken rib. <br>His parents reported just last month that Reed had been coughing up blood.<br><br>They said he was moved to a prison hospital for ten days but was then returned to his cell without 'meaningful medical care beyond an X-ray which was taken incorrectly', they said.<br>'Trevor's Mordovian lawyer was able to see him (on Tuesday) and confirmed that Trevor began a hunger strike...<br>to protest being sent back to solitary while injured and having TB,' the parents said in a statement.<br>Speaking to CNN last month, Joey Reed said: 'When they brought him back to his prison he said, "I need to go back. I'm still hurt and sick." And they put him to solitary confinement again, where he had been for most of the last seven months.<br><br>So he is protesting that. That's against all Russian regulations and European human rights.'<br> His girlfriend at the time, Alina Tsybulnik, left, and his father, Joey Reed, right, attended court hearings in Moscow last year<br>In the weeks that followed, Reed's parents sought a private meeting with Biden and administration officials.<br>On March 8, they demonstrated at a speech the president was giving in Fort Worth, Texas, about helping veterans access better health care.<br>That same day, a White House official said that the president had called the Reeds afterwards and reiterated 'his [https://www.google.com/search?q=commitment&btnI=lucky commitment] to doing everything he can to bring their son home, to staying in close touch with them through his national security team, and to finding a time to meet in person.'<br>Then on March 30, they demonstrated outside the White House to ask for a meeting.<br>Their wishes finally came true that day, when the Reeds discussed their son's service with the president in a 30-minute meet Press Secretary said Biden 'reiterated his commitment to continue to work to secure the release of Trevor, Paul Whelan, and other Americans wrongfully held in Russia and elsewhere, and to provide all possible assistance until they and others are free and returned home to their families who are advocating so passionately for their release.'<br>Family spokesman Jonathan Franks tweeted that the president was 'incredibly gracious' during his Wednesday evening meeting with the Reeds, who said the meeting left them feeling 'optimistic.'<br>'We want to tell him about our son - a little bit that he hasn't gotten from a report from someone,' Joey Reed told before the meeting.<br><br>'Remind him that our son added time to his Marine Corps service so he could be a presidential guard.' <br>The meeting marked the first time US officials had responded to their pleas for a prisoner swap.<br> The Reeds, above as they demonstrate in Lafayette Park near the White House on March 30, had been protesting in DC and trying to get a meeting with the president<br> They finally met with President Joe Biden that evening to discuss securing their son's release from a Russian prison<br> Joey and Paula Reed pose for a photo with a portrait of their son Marine veteran and Russian prisoner Trevor Reed at their home in Fort Worth, Texas, in February 2022<br> A poster photo of Reed in Lafayette Park near the White House in March 2022<br>Russian officials, meanwhile, had petitioned for years for the release of Yaroshenko, who was arrested in Liberia in May 2010, after undercover agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency uncovered evidence he planned to transport a large batch of cocaine.<br>According to court records obtained by in 2019, Yaroshenko was struggling financially at the time, when a colleague - Paddy McKay - said he knew someone who needed help with a big transportation job, and could pay handsomely for it.<br>Yaroshenko then met with McKay, and the man who identified himself as Nabil Habi in Kyiv in March 2010, when Hagi told Yaroshenko he could make millions of dollars if he agreed to help transport a large shipment of cocaine that would be coming from South America into Liberia.<br>Most of the drugs would be going to other destinations in Africa or Europe, but some would be headed to the United States. <br>Two months later, ABC News reports, he traveled to Liberia and met with a now-convicted drug smuggler named Chigo Umeh, who wanted to make the capital city a new major transshipment hub for drugs from South America.<br>Yaroshenko then agreed to the deal - saying he would transport more than four tons of cocaine from Venezuela to Liberia for $4.5 million and would make an additional $1.2 million to transport more drugs to Ghana, where he was told Hagi would arrange to send them to suppliers in the United States.<br>He was unaware at the time that McKay and Hagi were undercover informants for the DEA, and they also had their sights on Umeh, and was arrested as he made his transport.<br>He pleaded not guilty to the charges, describing them as fake, according to Russian news agency | |
