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In a dramatic prisoner exchange on Wednesday Russia traded former US Marine Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko.

The Russian prisoner was a pilot who had been jailed, in the US, for over 10 years, on drug smuggling charges. And Reed was serving a 9-year-sentence for assaulting a Russian policeman.

Reed, who is said to have health issues, had been in a Russian prison since 2019. According to parents Joey and Paula Reed, their son was poorly treated in prison. And he may have contracted tuberculosis.

They protested outside the White House last month to bring attention to the case of their son. His parents' persistence paid off and they were able to meet with President Biden.

Reed, 30, was visiting his Russian girlfriend when he went to Moscow in 2019.

After leaving a party drunk, he was arrested by two police officers. The Russian police claim he grabbed the driver causing him to swerve. And elbowed the other officer who was trying to intervene.

Reed has always maintained he has no memory of the incident. And pleaded not guilty.

Before the Reed protest, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan had raised concerns that their son "remains in prison for a crime he didn't commit".

According to US officials, Mr. Reed's release was "the result of months and months of hard, careful work" and there had been "growing concern" over his health while in detention.

Prisoner exchange

The U.S. released Yaroshenko, serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in Connecticut for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. He was arrested in Liberia. And in 2010 he was extradited to the U.S. for trial.

 The Justice Department says the Russian pilot is “an experienced international drug trafficker” who conspired to distribute thousands of kilograms of cocaine across the globe.

The prisoner exchange took place in Turkey. 

Reed’s father said, “The American plane pulled up next to the Russian plane and they walked both prisoners across at the same time as you see in the movies.” he said.

Reed was returned to the U.S., with Roger Carstens, the U.S. government’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.

With Reed’s release, more attention may be focused on WNBA player Brittney Griner. The basketball superstar has been in prison in Russia since February. And is pleading “not guilty” to charges of possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.

Other Americans are still being detained in Russia. This includes a Michigan corporate security executive, Paul Whelan, who is held on espionage-related charges.