Moscow: A former U.S. sailor sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison by a Russian court for assaulting police officers in an intoxication incident that he says he does not remember. Trevor Reed, 29, of Texas, alleges that the fees opposed to him were fabricated.
It’s the moment when the former American sailor will be sentenced long-term to Moscow in less than two months.
Reed was convicted of “causing physical and intellectual harm” to two police officers while at a birthday party in Moscow last August. He pleaded guilty and said that such a harsh sentence made him think his trial was “completely political.” “His lawyers said it was the toughest sentence ever filed in Russia.”
“I think any kind of military service in the United States makes it a target for the Russian government to kidnap and qualify crimes that never happened,” Reed told CBS News from a cage in the courtroom on Wednesday.
Reed traveled to Moscow last spring to examine Russia and make a stop at his girlfriend, Alina Tsybulnik, 22. They went to a party with Tsybulnik’s colleagues in August, where Reed said he had been encouraged to drink a large amount of alcohol and that he had. Tsybulnik said that on the way home, Reed felt sick, got out of his vehicle and walked perilously near a busy road. His friend called the police, hoping officials would take Reed to a facility where he might get out of his way.
When Tsybulnik arrived at the police station to pick up Reed a few hours later, he was questioned through Federal Security Service (FSB) representatives without an attorney. He was later accused of assaulting police officers who had arrested him in the way to the station.
Reed insisted that he did not remember the night because of his excessive alcohol consumption. The prosecution did not produce video or photo evidence of the assault, and the trial, Reed’s defense pointed to multiple discrepancies in the officers’ testimony, which called into question his accusations.
Reed’s father, Joey Reed, said his son broke up with the police because he was intoxicated, but “once they saw they had a former U.S. Marine, they said, “We’re going to keep this guy.”
He said he planned to continue seeking justice for his son and would appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It’s time for a former U.S. sailor’s conviction. Through a Moscow court in the last two months, after Michigan resident Paul Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage, which he said was forged from scratch. There are media reports on discussions between the United States and Russia about a criminal exchange imaginable for Whelan.
When Reed’s conviction aired Thursday, her friend Tsybulnik broke down in tears and had to be escorted out of the courtroom through guards. Reed said he would ask the U.S. government for policies for himself and for Tsybulnik, who does not need to remain in Russia for security reasons.