News of Russia’s release of WNBA star Brittney Griner today brought little consolation to the family of an Alabama native being held in Russia.
David Barnes, 64, a native of Gadsden and a former resident of Huntsville who moved to the Houston, Texas area, is currently being held inside Moscow Detention Center No. 5 after he was arrested back in January.
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was held for months in Russian prisons on drug charges, was released Thursday in a one-for-oneprisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout.
CBS News, citing a U.S. official, said the one-for-one exchange agreement was negotiated with Moscow in recent weeks and was given final approval byPresident Biden within justthe last week.
The trade means Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges, remains a prisoner of Russia.
Barnes’ sister, Carol Barnes, said from her home in Huntsville today that she remains “beyond frustrated” by her brother’s plight.
“Unfortunately, it really doesn’t give me much hope regarding David’s release,” she said.
“I feel that Griner’s exchange is mostly because she has received the most media coverage. The Biden administration should have been able to negotiate to include Paul Whelan in the exchange but this administration is so weak on the world stage and Russia knows it.”
Whelan, speaking to CNN, said he is “disappointed” the Biden administration has not done more to secure his release, but that his charges put him at a “level higher” than Griner.
Barnes’ sisters, Carol Barnes and Margaret Aaron, who live in Huntsville and Madison, have spent the last 11 months trying to bring attention to their brother’s case as he navigates the Russian criminal justice system.
His family members say they fully expect he will be found guilty before an attempt can be made to bring him back to the United States.
“Nothing we do seems to make any difference in what the outcome of this trial is most likely going to be,” Carol said.
At the same time, Barnes’ case has drawn the attention of the State Department and a member of Congress.
Barnes is reportedly accused of sexually abusing his two sons, ages 12 and 8, while living in the U.S. in Texas. The charges were brought by his ex-wife, Svetlana, a Russian citizen. Because at least one of the children has Russian nationality, according to reports, Russian authorities claim jurisdiction in the case.
Barnes faces up to 20 years in jail for the case. But his family says he is innocent of the charges. His trial was postponed twice before beginning on Nov. 16, Carol Barnes said.
The initial hearing lasted two hours, with the next day of trial action scheduled for Dec. 15. During that time, attempts to communicate with David through his attorney have been hit-or-miss, she said.
“At this rate with the trial only lasting two hours, it could take a year to conclude,” Carol said. “Their judicial system, if you want to call it that, is just insane.”
During divorce proceedings in the U.S., Svetlana made allegations of sexual abuse against David, which were investigated and found “not credible,” according to Kelly Blackburn, an assistant district attorney with the Montgomery County (Texas) D.A.’s office. No charges were ever filed against him.
Svetlana Barnes left the U.S. with the two sons, and David Barnes eventually tracked them to Russia.
When he entered the country earlier this year to make contact with them, he was arrested by Russian police after a report by Svetlana Barnes.
