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.
