A former United States Marine locked up in a Russian jail has gone on hunger strike to protest against being kept in solitary confinement for months, according to his family.
Former presidential guard Trevor Reed, 30, was handed a nine-year prison sentence in July 2019 after allegedly assaulting two Russian police officers while drunk.
The Texas native’s family has said he has been left in solitary for the past three months, while his Russian girlfriend declared he has not eaten since beginning a hunger strike on November 4.
His protest not only aims to appeal to prison guards, but also stacks further pressure on the Biden administration to negotiate his release after the former soldier’s family accused the President of not doing enough to bring him home.
They say the charges brought against him, which were upheld in a Russian court in 2019, are bogus accusations manufactured to keep the US citizen as a ‘political bargaining chip’.
‘While we are immensely proud of our son’s strength of character, we are also extremely worried about his health,’ parents Joey and Paula said along with sister Taylor.
The U.S. embassy in Moscow has labelled Reed’s trial as ‘absurd’ after it transpired the two police officers struggled to recall the alleged incident in court and told contradictory stories, but nothing has yet been done to bring the former marine home.
Russian authorities this morning declined to comment on Reed’s case, according to RIA Novosti.
‘I can’t comment on this,’ said Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov. ‘We’re talking about a prisoner. His sentence will be overseen and regulated by all of us. I have nothing more to tell you.’
Former presidential guard Trevor Reed, 30, was handed a nine-year prison sentence in July 2019 after allegedly assaulting two Russian police officers while drunk, but his family and the U.S Embassy believe the charges are trumped up
The ex-marine has not eaten since November 4 according to his Russian girlfriend, in a protest which aims not only to appeal to prison guards, but also to stack pressure on the Biden administration to negotiate his release
‘While we are immensely proud of our son’s strength of character, we are also extremely worried about his health,’ parents Joey and Paula (pictured) said along with sister Taylor.
Reed has been confined to a labor camp in the Mordova region of Russia for months, where he resides in a cell in extremely poor conditions.
His parents, who have been prevented from contacting their son for nearly four months, said his cell does not even include a toilet and that he did not receive any items brought to him by U.S. ambassador John Sullivan.
His family confirmed the news of Reed’s hunger strike via his Russian attorney, and released a statement yesterday saying the strike is to protest ‘his arbitrary detention and Russian authorities’ numerous and flagrant violations of his basic human rights and his rights under Russian law.’
‘Our concern is magnified by Russian authorities’ decision to hold Trevor incommunicado which makes it impossible for us or the Embassy to monitor his health,’ they said.
‘This ordeal has gone on 815 days with no end in sight and we have been patient.
‘Trevor’s job in the Marines was to take a bullet for president Biden and his family. We hope that when we return to Washington next month that both the President we voted for, and his national Security Advisor will find the time to see us.’
‘Trevor’s job in the Marines was to take a bullet for president Biden and his family. We hope that when we return to Washington next month that both the President we voted for, and his national Security Advisor will find the time to see us,’ said Trevor’s parents (pictured: Trevor detained during a court hearing in Moscow, August 2020)
The family expressed hope last June that the ex-marine would be returned home after President Joe Biden said he raised Reed’s plight during a summer meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
There was talk of a potential prisoner swap, but nothing materialized and the family is now concerned that there has been no further talks around a potential swap for their son.
The Reed family yesterday urged the Biden administration to consider a prisoner exchange once again and cited two names of Russian prisoners in the US who have been discussed publicly by Russian state media.
Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ thanks to his prolific work as an arms dealer, is currently serving a 25-year sentence, while Konstantin Yaroshenko, a drug smuggling pilot, is serving a 20-year sentence.