WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on news of American citizen Trevor Reed’s release from Russian prison:
“I welcome the news that American citizen Trevor Reed has been released from Russian prison where he was being held hostage by Putin. We are glad he will return to his family and friends in the United States. During his illegal imprisonment, Trevor faced dire conditions which caused serious health problems. I pray for his quick recovery.
“Putin continues to use U.S. citizens as pawns in his political games, and I call for the immediate release and return of other American hostages, in particular Paul Whelan who has been sentenced to 16 years in a hard labor camp. Great nations do not use hostage-taking to achieve their goals.
“I applaud the efforts of the U.S. government to bring Trevor home, including U.S Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens. It is a top foreign policy priority to bring home Americans who are being held hostage abroad.”
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