WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Former Marine Trevor Reed spoke out about his experiences in a Russian psychiatric center. He described the squalid conditions among severely mentally ill prisoners.

Reed was detained in Russia in 2019 and released in prisoner swap on April 28. This occurred amid some of the most tensions bilateral relations since decades, in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

Reed claimed that he was in jail with seven other prisoners at a mental treatment center.

Washington: The Russian Embassy had not yet commented on Reed’s (NASDAQ) comments.

He said that most of the prisoners were there for violent crime, including murder, and that they “just really disturbed people”.

Reed stated, “Inside that cell, you can see, that wasn’t a good spot.” There was blood everywhere – prisoners had either killed or tried to kill others or left their bodies on the walls.

The toilet is a small hole in the floor. There’s also, well, trash all over the floors and on the walls. You can also see people walking around there that look like they are zombies.”

CNN reported that he believes he was placed in the facility due to his persistent appeal against his conviction.

In 2019, Reed (30 years old) was found guilty of endangering two officers’ lives while intoxicated on a trip to Moscow. The U.S. called the charges “political theater.”

Reed declared that he didn’t believe in himself and would never give up on the hope of ever being free. Reed said that he wouldn’t allow himself to believe otherwise.

After Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent Western sanctions on Moscow, relations between Russia-America have been at an all-time low since the Cold War.

Paul Whelan (former Marine) and Brittney Griner (basketball star, two-time Olympic medalist), remain in Russia.

Whelan’s relatives have been calling for the Biden administration’s support of their case with Moscow after Reed was released in exchange to Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot.

David Whelan Whelan made the following statement Thursday: “Apparently, we need to make more, because not everyone supports Paul’s freedom.”