American student Trevor Reid, sentenced to nine years in prison for assaulting police officers, during an appeal hearing in the Moscow City Court. Freeze video WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 Russia has shown readiness to cooperate with the United States on the issue of the release of the Americans Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed, who are serving their sentences on its territory, said National Security Adviser to the US President Jake Sullivan.» Getting them home safely is our priority. The Russians are ready to work together through various channels to make this happen. And we are actively involved in efforts to achieve this,» he said in an interview with CNN.
Prosecutions confirmed Whelan's status as absconder Sullivan declined to provide any details, citing the sensitivity of the issue. Whelan was sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges. Reed was given a nine-year prison term for using violence against Moscow policemen who were taking an American to the police station after he, in a state of severe intoxication, quarreled on the street with two women. Russian diplomats publicly respond to calls for the release of Whelan and Reed with a reminder that both Americans are arrested for serious crimes, in contrast to citizens of the Russian Federation, who often end up in custody and trial in the United States on far-fetched pretexts.
