Russian And US Prisoner Swap Triggers Demand For Release Of WNBA Player Brittney Griner Who Has Been Jailed Since February

Brittney Yevette Griner (Instagram @brittneyyevettegriner)

JAKARTA - Russia and the United States carried out a dramatic prisoner swap on Wednesday. Marine veterans imprisoned in Moscow are swapped for convicted Russian drug dealers serving long prison sentences in America.

As part of the deal, Russia handed over Trevor Reed, a Marine from Texas who was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being brought by police to the police station after drinking at night.

Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison and has complained in recent months that his health has deteriorated, including coughing up blood and a diagnosis of tuberculosis.

"Today, our prayers have been answered and Trevor is safely on his way back to the United States," his family said in a statement.

When Reed returned to his family, the United States repatriated Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Yaroshenko is a Russian pilot who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for importing more than $100 million in cocaine.

The move marked the highest-profile release during the Biden administration of an American deemed wrongfully detained abroad.

President Biden reunited with the Reed family last month. Biden said negotiations to free the Marines "required a difficult decision that I don't take lightly."

"I heard in the voices of Trevor's parents how much they worried about his health and missed his presence," Biden said.

"And I'm delighted to be able to share with them the good news about Trevor's freedom."

After negotiating the return of Reed, social media users demanded the release of Brittney Griner.

Giner has been in prison in Russia since his arrest in February after authorities found a casing containing marijuana oil in his suitcase.

"I'm so happy for Trevor Reed and his family! However, we need to do the same for Brittney Griner," wrote one Twitter user.

Senior administration officials acknowledged Griner's situation. On Wednesday, government officials said they were "well aware that there are other Americans being held in Russia."

"So much on our minds today, even as we are so excited by the news about Trevor Reed."

"We will continue to work on finding ways to handle other cases as best we can," the officials said.