As President Donald Trump prepares to journey to Alaska on Friday to handle the way forward for Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the household of the Texas man serving the longest prison sentence of any American at present being detained in Russia is hopeful that one other prisoner trade between the 2 nations shall be on the agenda.
“We hope for higher relations between the U.S. and Russia that may hopefully result in the discharge of my brother,” Margaret Aaron, one among David Barnes’ two sisters, instructed ABC Information anchor Gio Benitez in an interview Wednesday.
Barnes, who grew up in Alabama, has been detained in Moscow since January 2022 and is at present serving a 21.5-year sentence.
“He is hanging in there,” Aaron mentioned. “He has been extraordinarily sturdy by the final three and a half years. We’re extraordinarily pleased with him and he has continued to be hopeful that one thing will occur.”
Not like different Individuals who’ve been held in Russia, Barnes is accused by Russian prosecutors of crimes in the US, not Russia. But American legislation enforcement had no involvement in Barnes’ prosecution in Moscow.
Barnes was convicted by a Russian judge of abusing his two sons years earlier in Texas, however prosecutors in Montgomery County, Texas, instructed ABC Information that legislation enforcement within the Lone Star State investigated the claims after they have been reported by Barnes’ Russian ex-wife and didn’t discover proof to assist them.
“I do know that everybody that heard and investigated the kid sexual abuse allegations raised by Mrs. Barnes throughout the baby custody proceedings didn’t discover them to be credible,” Montgomery County District Legal professional’s Workplace Trial Bureau Chief Kelly Blackburn beforehand instructed ABC Information.
David Barnes seems in courtroom in Russia on Feb. 13, 2024
ABC Information
“He is been struggling,” Aaron mentioned Wednesday. “He is harmless.”
Barnes’ ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, has maintained that Barnes abused their sons whereas the kids have been rising up within the Texas suburbs years in the past. Koptyaeva was charged with felony interference with baby custody after allegedly taking the kids from Texas to Russia in 2019 whereas a baby custody dispute between her and Barnes was enjoying out.
In 2020, a Texas household courtroom designated Barnes as the first guardian of his sons, however since since Koptyaeva had taken them in a foreign country, Barnes’ household says he determined to journey to Russia after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted to attempt to combat for comparable custody or visitation rights in Moscow’s courtroom system.
Barnes was arrested weeks after arriving in Russia and has been behind bars ever since. In April, a choose in Moscow denied Barnes’ enchantment of his conviction.
“We actually, really want to have him designated as wrongfully detained,” Aaron mentioned. “Hopefully, to start out that course of, we’d like the assistance of Trump and Secretary [Marco] Rubio.”
The upcoming assembly between Trump and Putin on American soil comes 4 months after Russian officers launched ballerina Ksenia Karelina to the U.S. by a prisoner trade.
Following Karelina’s return to the U.S., she wrote a letter to Trump calling for the discharge of Barnes together with fellow Individuals Robert Gilman and Andre Khachatoorian. Trump posted the letter on social media.
“David Barnes, a Texas father of two sons, has been detained in Russia for a lot too lengthy below prices already confirmed to be false, and it’s previous time for him to be launched,” U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas mentioned in a statement on the time. “I urge President Trump and Secretary Rubio to prioritize efforts to carry David and all wrongfully-detained Individuals all through the world dwelling.”
Different Individuals who have been beforehand held in Russia, like Paul Whelan, Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner, have been transferred to penal colonies removed from Moscow following their convictions — however Barnes has been held in Russia’s capital since he was taken into custody.
“We now have visited Mr. Barnes eight occasions since his arrest in January 2022,” a U.S. State Division spokesperson instructed ABC Information. “Our final go to to Mr. Barnes in detention was in Might 2025.”
With all eyes on Anchorage forward of this week’s presidential summit, Barnes’ household and pals within the U.S. shall be paying shut consideration.
“David’s power retains us going,” Aaron mentioned.
