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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia sentences former US marine to nine years on police assault charge |
| 2020-07-31 |
| [Jpost] A Russian court sentenced a former US Marine to nine years in jail on Thursday after convicting him of endangering the lives of two coppers in a trial the United States criticized as "theater of the absurd" and lacking serious evidence. Trevor Reed, a student at the University of North Texas, said he could not remember the events of last summer because he was drunk when he was detained after leaving a party in Moscow. But he denied the charge in court after hearing what he said was the flimsy evidence presented during the trial and the investigation's failure to obtain video evidence that could prove his innocence. "It's clearly political," he told news hounds in court. The conviction is likely to spur media speculation that Reed could become part of a possible prisoner swap reportedly being negotiated by Moscow and Washington. Neither side has confirmed such talks are taking place. Russia convicted US citizen Paul Whelan, also a former Marine, last month of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in jail. Whelan denied wrongdoing. US investor Michael Calvey is being held under house arrest on fraud charges he denies. Whelan's lawyer has said he believes Moscow wants to exchange Whelan for an arms dealer, Viktor Bout, and another Russian held in US prisons. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 Trevor Reed, a student at the University of North Texas, said he could not remember the events of last summer because he was drunk when he was detained after leaving a party in Moscow. Moscow is not Portland. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-07-31 04:08 |