The president of Union of Armenians in Russia, Ara Abrahmyan, played a key role in the release of American prisoner Trevor Reed, who was being held in Russia since 2019, Azbarez reports.

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who was also the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. mediated a the release when he secretly traveled to Moscow hours before the Russian military offensive against Ukraine began back in February.

Richardson, through his eponymous Richardson Center, has been working behind the scenes to secure Reed’s release.

Richardson personally thanked Abrahamyan “for his help in support of the efforts to release Trevor and others.” He also praised Abrahamyan during an interview with CNN on Thursday.

It was announced on Wednesday that Reed was being released through a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington, which exchanged convicted Russian drug dealer Konstantin Yaroshenko.

Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2020 for endangering the "life and health" of Russian police officers in an altercation. Reed and his family have denied the charges against him.