Kanishka Singh, Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Trevor Reed’s parents, a former Marine who was imprisoned in Russia in 2003, stated Wednesday that they are worried about “something horrible” and had not heard any information on their son’s “rapidly declining” health in the last five days.

Joe and Paula Reed spoke last week to Joe Biden. In a statement, they said that Reed could only be brought home by a prisoner exchange. The Reeds pleaded with the White House for all necessary steps to return their son. In the wake of Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine, tensions are high between Washington and Moscow.

Reed is a Texas native, aged 30, who was convicted in 2019 of endangering lives of 2 officers during drunkenness while on a Moscow visit. He currently serves a 9-year sentence. Reed denies the allegations. American officials called Reed’s trial “a theater of absurdity.”

The parents stated that it has been five days since Trevor’s health has not been updated and they are increasingly worried about something bad happening.

The Biden Administration has a fast closing window to allow their son home, they stated.

Russian news agencies reported Monday that Reed was on the last leg of his hunger strike. He is being cared for in prison’s hospital.

Reed started a hunger strike in protest of being kept in solitary confinement without proper medical treatment despite his parents’ fears that Reed might have tuberculosis.

The two men claimed that they could not confirm if Reed was transferred to a prison, or if Reed ended his hunger strike. Also, they said that there was no way to confirm that Reed is getting “any genuine medical care” as claimed by Russian officials.

A request by the Russian prison service for comments on Wednesday was not answered immediately.

Reed went on almost a full-fledged hunger strike last year in protest of being imprisoned and violations of his rights. This was an allegation that the prison service refuted.

Jen Psaki of the White House stated that Biden met with his parents last week and reiterated his determination to ensure Reed’s release.