Ed Markey: “That's why I fought so hard to create the Emergency Connectivity Fund.”

I am praying for Robert and his family today.

While this news is deeply welcomed, it is long overdue. It is a tragedy that it took Robert’s near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated.

The Commission is advancing this effort amid a broader pattern of the Trump administration seeking unprecedented access to Americans’ private data.

I urge the Trump administration to use Robert’s case as motivation to continue to advocate for the release of others wrongfully detained in Russia and around the world.