Ex-US marine Trevor Reed jailed in Russia since 2019 is exchanged for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko in shock swap

FORMER US Marine Trevor Reed has been exchanged for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko in a prison swap.

The exchange took place in Turkey on Wednesday, reports say.

Reed was arrested in Moscow in 2019 and accused of intentionally endangering the lives of government officials in the line of duty.

Russian cops said Reed got drunk and allegedly grabbed the arm of an officer as he was being taken to a station – claims that were dismissed by US officials as “preposterous”.

The former Marine was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Meanwhile, Yaroshenko has returned to Russia, according to the .

Yaroshenko, a convicted drug trafficker, had been behind bars in America. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail in 2010.

Reed's family said: "Today our prayers have been answered and Trevor is safely on his way back to the United States."

They said they have been "living a nightmare" while Reed was behind bars.

The family said: "First and foremost, we'd like to thank President Biden for his kindness, consideration, and for making the decision to bring Trevor home. The President's action may have saved Trevor's life."

Biden welcomed the prison exchange and said talks with Moscow required "difficult decisions".

He said: "Today, we welcome home Trevor Reed and celebrate his return to the family that missed him dearly.

"Trevor, a former U.S. Marine, is free from Russian detention.

"I heard in the voices of Trevor’s parents how much they’ve worried about his health and missed his presence.

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

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "I am pleased that after years of wrongful detention by the Russian government, Trevor Reed has been freed and reunited with his family."

Last year, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin branded Reed a “troublemaker” ahead of his summit with Biden in Geneva, Switzerland.

He suggested that Reed’s lucky to be alive.

Putin claimed that if he had attacked an American cop “he would have been shot dead on that spot”.

He told NBC: “Your guy, the Marine - he’s just a drunk and a troublemaker. As they say here, he got himself s***faced and started a fight.

“Among other things, he, he hit a cop. It’s, it’s nothing. It’s just a common crime. There is nothing to it.”

He added: “He got drunk on vodka and started a fight. He fought a cop. There is nothing offensive about it.

“These things happen in life. There is nothing horrible about it. It happens to our men as well. Somebody gulps down some vodka and starts a fight. So you violate the law, you go to prison.

"What would have happened if he’d fought a cop, if he’d hit a cop in your country? He would have been shot dead on that spot, and that’s the end of it. Isn’t that the case?”